BEEP CATTLE IN NORTH CAROLINA. 29 



age gain for the summer was 357 pounds per steer, the average total 

 gain over initial weight of 321 pounds, the average total cost per 

 steer $12.18, showing an average profit of $21.06 per steer, the total 

 average cost per pound gain being $0,038. 



The steers in Lot 2, division " b," were wintered the same as those 

 in Lot 2, division " a," and were given cake in addition to grass dur- 

 ing the summers. These steers lost an average during the winter of 

 51 pounds per head. They made an average gain for the summer of 

 379 pounds, or a total gain over initial weight of 328 pounds. The 

 average total cost was $21.32 per steer, showing an average profit of 

 $21.51 per steer, the total cost per pound of gain being $0,065. 



The steers in Lot 3 were wintered the same as those in Lot 2, on 

 corn silage, corn stover, hay, and straw, and summered on grass 

 without cake. These cattle lost an average of 52 pounds per head 

 during the winter, and made an average total gain during summers 

 of 360 pounds, or a total gain over initial fall weight of 308 pounds 

 at an average total cost of $12.06, showing an average profit of 

 $21.77. The total cost per pound of gain was $0,039. 



The cattle in Lot 4 were grazed both winter and summer. It is 

 very interesting to study the results of this work, as these cattle 

 gained an average of 20 pounds per steer during each winter for the 

 three years. The total gain for the summer averaged 330 pounds per 

 steer, or a total gain over the initial fall weight of 350 pounds at 

 an average total cost of $10.80, showing an average profit of $22.36 

 per steer, exclusive of the value of the manure. The total cost per 

 pound gain was $0,031. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



During the first two summers' work the feeding of cottonseed cake 

 to steers on grass was profitable. During the last year's work, owing 

 to the high price of the cake, it did not pay. Considering this fact 

 and the high price that feeders have been celling for, the feeding of 

 cottonseed cake on grass will not prove sufficiently profitable to rec- 

 ommend it as a general practice. It should be understood, however, 

 that this applies to conditions similar to those where this work was 

 conducted, that is, where the steers can get an abundance of excel- 

 lent blue grass. 



Winter grazing not only proved to be the most satisfactory method 

 of wintering stock cattle, producing a substantial gain each year, 

 but it was the cheapest method tried in any of the wintering work. 

 In addition to this, these winter-grazed cattle made the largest total 

 gain for the year and at less cost per head than any of the steers 

 wintered in the barns. 



These winter-grazed cattle also made a larger average profit than 

 any of the other lots of cattle. Not including the manure, the total 



