42 



BULLETIN 



U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



pounds of cottonseed hulls, and 211 pounds of hay and stover, valued 

 at $13.92. Thus it is seen that considerably more concentrates were 

 required to produce 100 pounds of gain in Lot 2, while the amount of 

 roughage, including the cobs in the ear corn fed to Lot 2, was nearly 

 the same for both lots. Apparently this would indicate clearly that 

 corn was not efficient in producing gains; but it should be remem- 

 bered that the corn was of poor quality. 



Although the steers in Lot 2 gained more, the gains cost 60 cents 

 per hundredweight more than in Lot 1. 



The amount and cost of feed required to make 100 pounds of gain 

 are factors of great interest to the feeder. As the prices of feeds 

 fluctuate from year to year, the farmer, knowing the quantity and 

 cost of feed needed to produce 100 pounds of gain, can calculate 

 safely what gains he may expect from certain rations, and determine 

 the approximate cost of putting the gains on his cattle under the 

 different conditions. 



Table 20 shows the average final farm and market weights per 

 head, the shrinkage in transit to market, the carcass weights, and 

 dressing percentages of the steers. 





Table 20— J 



Wauglvte 



/■ data, winter fattening of 1913- 



-l-'h 





Lot 

 No. 



Ration. 



Average 



farm 



weight 



per steer, 



Mar. 10. 



Average 

 market 

 weight 

 per steer, 

 Mar. 16. 



Average 

 shrinkage 



per steer 

 in transit. 



Average P a e .^f 



™£ I 01 shrLk- 

 carcass. age 



Percent- 

 age 

 dressed 

 by farm 

 weights. 



Percent- 

 age 



dressed 

 by 



market 



weights. 



1 



Cottonseed meal, cotton- 

 seed hulls, corn stover. 



Pounds. 

 973 



983 



Pounds. 

 892 



898 



Pounds. 

 81 



85 



Pounds. 

 485 



513 



Per cent. 

 8.35 



8.66 



Per cent. 

 49.9 



52.2 



Per cent. 

 54.4 



2 



Cottonseed meal . ear corn . 

 cottonseed hulls, corn 



57.2 











In transit the steers in Lot 1 sustained a shrinkage of 81 pounds 

 per head, while those of Lot 2 lost 85 pounds per head, so there was 

 little difference in the shrinkage of the two lots. This excessive 

 shrinkage is accounted for by the fact that the cattle left the farm at 

 Springdale on March 10. 1911. were driven 10 miles over bad roads to 

 a loading point, loaded the following morning, and shipped to Balti- 

 more, where they arrived after a three days' trip. In addition to 

 these disadvantages when the steers arrived at the market the weather 

 was very cold and disagreeable, which prevented their taking a 

 normal fill of water. 



It will be noted that the carcasses of the steers of Lot 2 weighed 

 heavier than those of Lot 1. and also dressed out better. Those in 

 Lot 1 dressed out 54.1 per cent and those of Lot 2, 57.2 per cent by 

 market weights. This difference in the killing conditions of the 

 steers was detected very easily in the carcasses, as those of Lot 2 



