CALF FEEDING IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. 



43 



METHOD OF HANDLING THE CALVES. 



The calves were weighed up on October 30 and transferred to the 

 barn, where they were started on feed October 31, 1916. The calves 

 of each lot were fed in pens in a large barn which was open enough 

 on the sides and ends so there was plenty of ventilation at all times. 

 The pens were concreted, so the calves were not in the mud. Fresh 

 water from a deep well was kept before the calves at all times. The 

 silage was fed in troughs and the grain ration mixed with it. The 

 silage was of good quality and was eaten readily by the calves. 

 Feeding was done at 7 a. m. and 3.30 p. m. each day. The calves 

 were weighed each 28 days while on feed. 



AVERAGE DAILY RATIONS. 



Table 24 shows the daily rations per calf by 28-clay periods 



Table 24. 



-Average daily rations by 28-day periods (Oct. 31, 1916, to Jan. 5, 

 1917, 61 days). 



Ration. 









Total 



First 

 period. 



Second 

 period. 



Third 



period 



(11 days). 



amount 

 of feed 

 eaten 



per head. 



Pounds. 



Pounds. 



Pounds. 



Pounds. 



4.5 



4.5 



4.5 



299 



35.8 



37.8 



37.5 



2,460 



3.0 



3.0 



3.0 



199 



6.0 



6.0 



6.0 



399 



27.6 



30.3 



30.0 



1,938 



Average 

 daily 

 ration 



for entire 

 period. 



("Cottonseed meal 



\Corn silage 



(Cottonseed meal 

 ^Shelled corn. . .. 

 (Corn silage 



Pounds. 

 4.5 



37.0 

 3.0 

 6.0 



29.1 



During the first 28 days of the feeding period the calves of lot 1 

 consumed 35.8 pounds of silage per head per day, and those of lot 2 

 consumed 27.6 pounds. 



• The grain ration for each calf of lot 1 was 4.5 pounds of cotton- 

 seed meal per day for the entire period, and each calf in lot 2 was fed 

 3 pounds of cottonseed meal and 6 pounds of corn daily. 



For the remainder of the feeding period, the calves of lot 1 ate 

 about 37.5 pounds of silage per head per day, and those of lot 2 

 about 30 pounds each. The average daily ration for the entire period 

 was 4.5 pounds of cottonseed meal and 37 pounds of silage for lot 1, 

 and 3 pounds cottonseed meal, 6 pounds shelled corn, and 29.1 pounds 

 of silage for lot 2. 



TOTAL AND DAILY GAINS. 



The total and the daily gains made by each calf are shown in 

 table 25. 



At the beginning of the winter feeding the calves of lot 1 averaged 

 585 pounds in weight. During the 67 days the calves were on feed 

 the calves of lot 1 receiving cottonseed meal gained 100 pounds each, 



