16 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 192 



Carnegie Institute a co-operative experiment in basal metabolism with cattle 

 was started, and a splendid opportunity was offered to work out, at the same 

 time, some problems having a direct bearing on winter feeding of beef animals 

 (steers) with special reference to the influence of maintenance and submain- 

 tenance rations. 



The general character of this experiment was planned to cover "the influence 

 of maintenance and submaintenance rations in the wintering of steers and their 

 effects on subsequent fattening of farm animals for market" both on pasture 

 and on dry rations. 



Twelve steers were purchased for this purpose and a part of one of the sheep 

 barns was remodeled to suit the needs of the experiment. No details can be 

 given regarding progress up to the present time. 



STEER FEEDING EXPERIMENT. 



History of Experiment. 



The question of raising and feeding beef cattle in New Hampshire has been 

 a matter of some concern to many of our farmers. WTiile this section of the 

 country cannot become a competitor in beef production with the corn belt, 

 where the feeding industry to market grain in the form of beef is of primary 

 importance, there are other fundamental reasons for a greater increase in 

 our live stock. 



These are, first, soil fertihtj^; second, marketing of surplus hay, especially 

 those grades which often have a low market value; and, third, to make use of 

 some of our unused grazing lands. 



In the fall of 1917 several carloads of Hereford steer and heifer calves, aver- 

 aging about six to ten months of age, were brought here from Texas by local 

 farmers, primarily with the object to feed up hay which at that time had a very 

 low market value. 



The Animal Husbandry Department at that time had the opportunity to 

 study the same problem as a co-operative project with the Horticultural 

 Department under a condition very typical throughout the state. 



The latter department had about ten tons of hay representing a very low 

 market value. In fact the cost of bahng, haul to station, freight, etc., would 

 hardly have been repaid, had there been any market demand for that type of 

 hay at all. Furthermore, that department was in great need of manure which 

 it was obliged often to haul such distance as to make manure very expensive. 

 The following co-operative agreement was therefore entered into : 



Co-operative Agreement. 



' 'The Animal Husbandry Department of the Station is to have full advisory 

 control on the method of conducting the feeding test and to supply the stock 

 and the grain and to pay the Horticultural Department a fair market price 

 for the hay used. The Horticultural Department is to furnish the barn, running 

 water and necessary labor in exchange for the manure accumulated during the 

 indoor feeding period. Any balance is to be adjusted on an equitable basis 

 between value of labor and value of manure." 



