INCKEASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 25 



The spring and summer of 1916 were more severe than the average 

 and, although there was a good deal of dry grama grass available up 

 to the time the rains came, it was advisable to feed considerable cake, 

 mainly to breeding cows, weaned calves, and bulls. 



A total of 25,650 pounds of cake was fed to the special herd of 500 

 breeding cows and 20 bulls. About 75 per cent of the herd were 

 "caked" at one time or another. The cake cost approximately $40 

 per ton, or a total of $534 at the feed yards on the Reserve. As a 

 result of this feeding not a single animal was lost from starvation, 

 the calves were kept growing in spite of the fact that many of them 

 were mothered by 2-year-old heifers, and the cows and bulls were 

 kept in fair breeding condition. 



There is some question as to the advisability of feeding cake to 

 calves weaned in the fall from the time of weaning until green grass 

 comes. The advantages of such feeding are that it keeps the calves 

 growing, or in condition to make rapid growth when green feed 

 comes; that it prevents loss from starvation; and that it makes it 

 possible to take the calves from thin cows at an earlier age than is 

 advisable where the calves must winter on dry range alone. These 

 considerations are important, but it is difficult to measure them in 

 dollars and cents for comparison with costs. Observations over 

 several seasons, however, indicate that such feeding pays. 



During the fall and winter of 1915-16 about 700 head of weaned 

 calves were fed on cake to supplement the range feed. The quantity 

 of feed used and costs were as follows: 



37.2 tons cottonseed cake at $36 per ton at railroad $1, 361. 50 



Hauling cottonseed cake to Reserve from railroad at $3 per ton . 111. 60 



145 bales alfalfa hay 72. 50 



Hauling alfalfa hay to the Reserve 9. 00 



Labor and board for feeding, 6 months at $40 per month 240. 00 



1, 794. 60 

 Average cost per head for 700 head 2. 56 



The alfalfa hay was used in mixture with the cake until the calves 

 learned to eat the cake alone. The average- feed of cake was 1.8 

 pounds. 



The value of keeping the calves growing is apparent in the sales of 

 steers. From the 700 head caked, 100 head of long yearlings were 

 cut out and placed with the 2-year-old steers for sale May 1, 1916. 

 The steers were sold by the head, with the privilege of a 10 per cent 

 cut. When the cut was made, 101 of the older steers were cut back 

 and finally sold at $10 per head less than the sale price for the herd. 

 Not one of the caked yearlings was included in the cut. The 2-year- 

 olds cut back had not been caked as calves following weaning. The 

 remainder of the steer calves fed during the winter of 1915-16 were 



