FEEDING OF BEEP COWS IN THE CORN" BELT. O 



tion each of cheap roughages, hay, fodder, silage, and grain. This 

 being the case it is evident that if the farms in the first two groups, 

 which comprise approximately two-thirds of all the farms, were 

 feeding their cows enough, the rest were feeding their cows a great 

 deal more than they needed. Much of this excess feed undoubtedly 

 was trampled under foot and wasted. 



The records in the first two groups were analyzed to determine 

 whether the cows in these groups were receiving a ration that was 

 adequate for the maintenance of a cow in calf. The analyses showed 

 that although the rations on a few of the farms in the first group 

 were hardly adequate, nevertheless the majority of the cows were 

 getting enough feed to carry them through the winter in fair con- 

 dition. It also showed that the cows in the second group were receiv- 

 ing ample feed; in some cases even more than was absolutely 

 necessary. 



The cows in the first group were wintered at an average cost for 

 feed of $10.70 and those in the second at $13.50 per head. 1 The 

 winter feed bill for the cows in the third and fourth groups was 

 $18.50 and $21, respectively. Thus on nearly one-half of these farms 

 the cost of wintering the cows could have been reduced materially, 

 and many of the calves that were produced at a loss could have been 

 grown at a profit. In fact, 800 of the calves produced on the farms 

 in the first group were sold at weaning time for an average profit of 

 $4.60 per head, while 700 from farms of the last group sold at the 

 same time showed a loss of $8.90 per head. As the number of calves 

 sold at weaning time is hardly large enough to constitute a fair 

 index, the average value of the remaining calves, inventoried when 

 turned on pasture at an average age of 13 months, may be cited. 

 The inventoried value of the calves in all four groups was approxi- 

 mately $38 per head. The 2,200 calves inventoried in the first group 

 showed a loss of but $5 at that time, while the 1,600 inventoried in the 

 last group showed an average loss of nearly $20 a head. 2 



An effort was made to determine whether the varying rations had 

 any effect on the number of calves produced and on their quality. 

 This study showed that the percentage of calves was approximately 

 the same in each of the four groups. 



1 In determining the cost of the winter feed for the cow, the various feeds were, so 

 far as possible, priced at their sale value on the farm — that is, the market value less 

 cost of hauling. The price for fodder was based on the value of the corn it contained 

 plus a charge for the cutting and the value of the stalks or stover. Silage was figured 

 in much the same manner. 



2 The calves were inventoried when they were turned on pasture, May 1. As they 

 still had to maintain all expenses of the breeding herd as well as an expensive winter 

 feed bill, they were inventoried at relatively the most expensive point in their history. 

 Had the calves been carried on pasture until the following November and then in- 

 ventoried, those in the first group would have given a substantial profit, while the loss 

 on the others would have been much less. 



