FATTENING CATTLE IN ALABAMA. 9 



From the table it is seen that during the month of December the 

 steers of lot 1 each lost 10 pounds, those of lot 2 gained 27 pounds, and 

 those of lot 4 lost 8 pounds in weight. December was the most severe 

 month during the winter of 1909-10, and that larger losses in weight 

 were not experienced can only be accounted for by the fact that the 

 steers were in good flesh to withstand the weather and that the feed on 

 the range was better during this month than at any subsequent time. 



In January the losses were greater, the steers of lot 1 losing heavily, 

 decreasing in weight 41 pounds each, while the cattle of lot 2 gained 

 1 pound and the steers of lot 4 lost 5 pounds each. 



The losses in February were heaviest with the hay-fed cattle, as 

 their range was becoming exhausted. The steers of lot 1 had been 

 turned outside during this period and lost about 9 pounds each. 

 A gain of 28 pounds per head is shown by the steers of lot 2. 



The steers of all of the lots showed a heavy loss during the last 

 week of the winter work. There is little doubt, however, that a 

 considerable part of the loss shown during this period was made 

 during February and was not reflected in the weights taken on 

 March 2. This was due to the weather conditions when the cattle 

 were weighed on March 1 and March 8, respectively. On the former 

 day the weather was warm and the cattle had taken on a large fill; 

 on the latter day these conditions were reversed, so that the weights 

 taken on March 1 showed the steers in a more favorable condition 

 than was actually the case. 



FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 



The cattle had been bought during the summer and early fall of 

 1909, and as they were of very common breeding they had cost but 

 2\ cents per pound at that time. Cattle at the present time are 

 worth from 50 to 100 per cent more in that section than they were 

 four years ago. The following financial statement shows the cost of 

 the cattle the following spring. No statement is given for lot 4 

 because the value of the hay could not be ascertained. 



Financial statement of winter feeding . 

 Lot 1. Range alone: 



To 637-pound steer, at $2.50 per hundredweight $15. 92 



By value of same steer in spring, 531 pounds, at $3 per hundred- 

 weight $15. 93 



15. 92 15. 93 



Lot 2. Range plus cottonseed meal and hulls: 



To 633-pound steer, at $2.50 per hundredweight 15. 83 



To 223 pounds cottonseed meal, at $26 per ton 2. 87 



To 808 pounds cottonseed hulls, at $6 per ton 2. 42 



By value of steer in spring, 676 pounds, at $3 per hundredweight 20. 28 



By required increase in value over range steer to break even (12£ 

 cents per hundredweight) 84 



21. 12 21. 12 

 43865°— 14 2 



