40 Bulletin 827, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



feed lots the steers were pastured on cornstalk and velvet-bean pas- 

 ture for 28 days. The corn had been snapped and the unpicked 

 beans left in the field were estimated to average 500 pounds an 

 acre. The steers made an average daily gain of 1 pound a head on 

 pasture. 



When taken off pasture the steers were divided into two lots and 

 fed 94 days. Lot 1 was fed whole velvet beans in the pod and 

 corn silage. Lot 2 was fed velvet beans and pods crushed and 

 corn silage. No other roughage or concentrate was fed. Both 

 lots were fed in a similar manner, the only difference being in the 

 preparation of the beans for Lot 2. The average daily ration per 

 head on full feed was 10.9 pounds of velvet beans and 22 pounds of 

 corn silage. Corn silage was valued at $5 a ton and whole velvet 

 beans at $25 a ton. The charge for crushing the beans was $4 a ton, 

 making them cost $29. 



The steers of Lot 1, getting whole beans, relished their ration, 

 while the steers of Lot 2, getting crushed beans, would not clean 

 up their feed as fast nor consume as much as Lot 1 had the latter 

 been allowed to eat as much as they wished. 



The average daily gains, 1.41 pounds and 1.38 pounds for Lots 

 1 and 2, respectively, were practically the same and were satisfac- 

 tory for the class of steers and the rations fed. 



The amount of feed consumed per 100 pounds gain was almost 

 identical in both lots. The quantity of silage consumed per 100 

 pounds gain was very low, owing to the large quantitj T of rough- 

 age in the bean hulls. 



The feed cost per 100 pounds gain was $11.72 and $13.29 for Lots 

 1 and 2, respectively. Since the pounds of feed consumed per 100 

 pounds gain was almost identical in both lots, the extra cost of $1.57 

 per 100 pounds gain in Lot 2 was due to the charge for crushing the 

 beans. It is interesting to note that Lot 1 made gains for less cost 

 per 100 pounds than the selling price, which was $12 for both lots. 



The steers were 96 hours in transit to market, with a resulting 

 heavy shrinkage. Lot 1 dressed by market weights 56.1 per cent, 

 and Lot 2, 55.22 per cent. 



The plan of the experiment was to carry the steers for a longer 

 feeding period, but the silos at the station were destroyed by fire, 

 making it necessary to ship at once. In general, however, the steers 

 were fairly well finished for steers of their quality, as is shown by the 

 dressing percentages. 



Hogs following the steers without other feed did not make satis- 

 factory gains. The hogs following the steers that got crushed beans 

 lost weight at the time the steers were on full feed. 



The results of this experiment indicate that velvet beans and corn 

 silage make a satisfactory ration for fattening steers and produce 



