3S N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



the first year, tlie silage fed ones were finished better, having that firm 

 touch characteristic of animals in good order. The lot fed cottonseed 

 hulls was not as smooth., having more of the harsh rough handling 

 quality which is often caused by a dry, unpalatable ration. While this 

 ration was apparently relished, the large amount of crude fiber and its 

 lack of succulence no doubt rendered it less digestible and consequently 

 less efficient in producing a carcass of the best quality. A careful 

 examination of the three lots shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 will show a 

 marked difference in their condition. The hair and hide of lot 1 is dry, 

 rough, and the steers appear to be unfinished. Lots 2 and 3 are smoother, 

 the hair is in much better condition and the animals, as a whole, are in 

 higher order. These observations were confirmed by the slaughter tests, 

 made the second year. According to lots, the steers ranked in quality and 

 finish as follows: first, lot 2, fed corn silage; second, lot 1, fed corn 

 silage and corn stover; and third, lot 3, fed cottonseed hulls. While the 

 distinction in price was not made the first year, the rank of the cattle in 

 quality and finish was approximately the same as the rank given in the 

 second year. 



Average Daily Gain per Steer by Months. 



The table showing the average daily gains of each lot by one month 

 periods includes the preliminary period in the weights for the first month. 

 The variation in gain is quite marked in this period, however, with one 

 exception, the subsequent weights were fairly uniform. Lot 2 during 

 the second year and the second month of the feeding period made 

 a low average gain, and then dropped to slightly over one pound the 

 third month. Taking the averages for each year, however, the results 

 are very uniform. The lot fed corn silage as roughage has the lowest 

 average daily gain for the two years and the lot fed cottonseed hulls as 

 roughage has the highest average daily gain for the two years. The first 

 year the average daily gain for lot 3 during the third and fourth 

 month is given for the two months combined on account of a necessary 

 omission in the weight of this lot the third month. Table 5 gives the 

 average daily gains by months for the steers in each of the three lots 

 fed during the two years. 



TABLE 5 SHOWING AVERAGE DAILY GAINS PER STEER BY MONTHS FROM 

 BEGINNING OF EXPERIMENT. 



AVERAGE DAILY GAINS PER STEER. 



PF](IOD In 1909-1910. In 1910-1911. 



Lotl. Lot 2. Lot 3. Lot 1. Lot 2. Lot 3. 



.33 1.23 



2.10 1.90 



1.05 1.20 



1.43 1.48 



1.23 1.45 



