30 BULLETIN 631, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



purchased calves were weaned, dehorned, marked, and turned into 

 an alfalfa field until the experiment was started. The home-raised 

 calves were weaned, dehorned, and marked just a few days before the 

 experiment was to start. All the calves had been dropped in the 

 spring and were from 7 to 8 months old when weaned. 



The calves were weighed individually on November 11, and again 

 on the 12th, on which date they were divided into three similar lots 

 and started on feed. 



OBJECTS OF THE WORK. 



In the Alabama experiments the calves were given small rations 

 of grain for comparatively short periods. They made satisfactory 

 gains and were in good killing order but were not well finished at the 

 close of the tests. In this test it was decided to feed the calves for a 

 longer period and to give them a heavier grain ration in order to have 

 them well finished before they were sold. 



The objects of this test were : 



1. To see if good grade calves such as can be raised easily in Mis- 

 sissippi can be finished for the market economically and profitably. 



2. To make a comparative study of the value of cottonseed meal 

 alone, a combination of cottonseed meal and shelled corn, and shelled 

 corn alone, as concentrated feeds to be used in finishing calves that 

 were to be fed silage as the principal roughage, with a small amount 

 of alfalfa hay. 



3. To determine approximately how much manure could be saved 

 by feeding calves on a concrete floor under shelter. 



CHARACTER AND PRICES OF THE FEEDS USED. 



As this test was a comparison of grain feeds, the same kind of 

 roughage was fed to all three lots. Feeders generally have the im- 

 pression that cattle which are being fattened will do somewhat better 

 if they are given a small amount of some palatable hay when they 

 are fed corn silage as the chief roughage. For this reason the calves 

 of all lots were given about 44 pounds of alfalfa hay per day in addi- 

 tion to all of the corn silage they would eat. 



The cottonseed meal used was bright and of good quality, analyz- 

 ing from 1\ to 8 per cent of ammonia. The corn was of good quality, 

 being well matured and sound. The silage was of good quality, hav- 

 ing been cut at the proper stage and carrying considerable grain. 

 The corn probably would have yielded 45 bushels to the acre. The 

 alfalfa was of rather low grade, as it had been damaged by heavy 

 dews. 



