TEE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY 



395 



only to decide what are the most effect- 

 ive and economic grains and the best 

 combinations in which to feed them, 

 but also the amounts which may be fed 

 with the best results and greatest profits. 

 This problem has been studied by Ken- 

 nedy and others at the Iowa experiment 

 station. After the steers had been 

 brought to a proper feeding condition, 

 the rations were gradually increased 

 until one lot received 16, one 19 and 

 one 21 pounds daily each head. The 

 grain was shelled corn, but later on in 

 the experiment supplemental feeds, such 

 as gluten feed and other nitrogenous 

 materials, were added to bring the steers 

 more rapidly to a fine finish. On the 

 light grain ration, the amount of grain 

 required $£>r each pound of gain was 

 10.95 pounds, and the amount of rough- 

 age 9 pounds; while the average cost of 

 each pound of gain was 9 cents. On a 

 medium grain ration each pound of gain 

 required the consumption of IIV2 pounds 

 of grain and 8V2 pounds of roughage, 

 and cost 9.1 cents. On the heavy grain 

 ration each pound of gain required 12 

 pounds of grain and 6Yz pounds of 

 roughage, and cost 9.2 cents. 



Gains can be made more economically 

 with a light or medium grain ration 

 than with a heavy one; but in a feeding 

 period of 189 days, it is not possible to 

 finish cattle on light or medium grain 

 rations so as to bring the top market 

 price. The difference in the selling price 

 of cattle fed a heavy grain ration is 

 more than enough to offset the cheaper 

 gains made by steers on light and me- 

 dium rations, so that in the end the 

 greater economy is found in the heavy 

 rations. Judging from the gains made 

 by hogs following the various lots of 

 steers, it seems that the grain was more 

 perfectly digested by the steers which 

 received the light and medium rations. 

 In Kentucky, good results were ob- 

 tained by increasing the rations during 

 the fattening period, so that at the end 

 of the period the steers were receiving 

 from 20 to 24 pounds daily of ear corn 

 or corn and cob meal ; or, when supple- 

 mental feeds were added to the corn, 13 

 to 20 pounds of corn meal and 2 to 6 

 pounds of cottonseed meal, or 4 pounds 

 cottonseed meal and 4 pounds bran. 



Shaw attempted to determine the most 

 economic ration of barley for fattening 

 steers in connection with clover hay as 

 roughage. It is believed as a result 

 of this experiment that when alfalfa 



or clover hay is used as the roughage, 

 not more than ^ pound of barley or 

 a similar grain to each 100 pounds of 

 live weight is necessary to produce the 

 most satisfactory results. The extra 

 gains derived from the use of heavy 

 grain rations sometimes fail to compen- 

 sate for the extra cost of the ration. 



Grain mixed with the roughage — Ac- 

 cording to the experience of Cottrell, 

 the feeding of grain and roughage 

 mixed seems to prevent scouring in 

 steers. When the grain and roughage 

 are fed separately, the steer chews his 

 grain but little, swallows it quickly and 

 none of it is brought up for mastication. 

 Since starch constitutes a large part of 

 corn and most other grains, a consider- 

 able part of this material must pass 

 through the intestines undigested. On 

 the other hand, Cottrell insists upon the 

 point that when grain is mixed with 

 the roughage, the steer is compelled to 

 spend more time in chewing his ration 

 and that some of the grain is brought 

 up again with the rough material and 

 more thoroughly masticated. It is be- 

 lieved, therefore, that "the steer gains 

 more from each bushel of grain eaten, 

 better digestion keeps his body in better 

 health, and scouring is avoided." Cot- 

 trell, therefore, recommends that the 

 feed of the steer be so mixed that every 

 mouthful contains some corn and some 

 roughage. 



Grain stubble fields — In harvesting 

 cereals, some of the grain falls upon the 

 ground. This is a total loss unless it 

 can be harvested by domestic animals. 

 The common practice of turning stock 

 into stubble fields rests on a good foun- 

 dation. In Montana, it was found that 

 stubble fields are worth ..bout $1.50 to 

 the acre for grazing purposes. Pigs are 

 perhaps more successful in collecting the 

 scattered grain than steers, but all do- 

 mestic animals succeed in getting con- 

 siderable valuable material out of the 

 stubble fields. 



Condimental feeds — A great differ- 

 ence of opinion prevails regarding the 

 feeding value of proprietary, tonic and 

 condimental feeds, which are so exten- 

 sively advertised in agricultural jour- 

 nals and elsewhere. These feeds have 

 been repeatedly analyzed in this coun- 

 try and in Europe and, as a rule, chemi- 

 cal analysis shows that their nutritive 

 value is not high enough to warrant the 

 prices which are ordinarily charged for 

 them. In Scotland, condimental feeds 



