308 



Feeds and Feeding. 



487. Rate of gain. — Otis of the Kansas Station^ compared the 

 cost of calves reared on skim milk or whole milk with that of others 

 running with their dams at pasture. Those fed skim milk and whole 

 milk were given in addition equal parts of corn meal and kafir meal, 

 with alfalfa hay for roughage. After weaning, all were placed in 

 the feed lot and given the same feeds. 



Rate of gain of calves variously fed up to one year of age. 



The skim-milk calves, tho not gaining so rapidly as the others up 

 to weaning, cost less for a given gain than either of the other lots. 

 During the 7 months in the feed lot the skim-milk calves made the 

 most rapid gains and also the most economical gains, measured by 

 the feed consumed. Otis reports that the 22 calves running with 

 their dams lost 73 lbs. the week following separation at weaning time, 

 requiring several weeks to recover this loss. In estimating the cost 

 of the several lots before weaning, skim milk was valued at 15 cents 

 per 100 lbs., and whole milk at 21.1 cents for each lb. of fat it con- 

 tained. Hay was rated at $4 per ton, and concentrates at $10. The 

 cost of a calf running with its dam until weaned was placed at $12, 

 and of one raised on skim milk at $5.27. 



488. Cost of rearing calves. — Norton of the Michigan Station,^ 

 on keeping account of all the feed consumed for 1 year by 57 calves 

 of various dairy and beef breeds, secured the following results: 



Average birth weight 81 pounds 



Average weight at end of year 648 pounds 



Average gain during the year 567 pounds 



Average daily gain 1.6 pounds 



The average amount of feed consumed by each calf during the year 



Whole milk 405 pounds 



Skim milk 3,968 pounds 



Dried beet pulp _ 111 pounds 

 Grain 1,033 pounds 



Corn silage 1, 057 pounds 



Hay 1,007 pounds 



Roots 149 pounds 



Soilage 148 pounds 



Bui. 126. 



' Bui. 257. 



