FATTEI^IjSTG STEEKS ok pasture IlSr THE SOUTH. 



13 



tures are much the same as those found in the Alabama pastures pre- 

 viously described. Lespedeza, Bermuda grass, and crab grass are 

 the most important ones. 



Owing to a dry period early in the spring of 1915 the pastures 

 were not ready for use until late in May, and in midsummer a drought 

 of two months' duration almost ruined the pastures for the season. 

 Eains during the latter part of August also injured them somewhat. 

 Owing to these unsatisfactory conditions good gains on the cattle 

 could hardly be expected. The pasture was charged at the rate of 50 

 cents a head for each period of 28 days, as in the Alabama tests. 



METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING THE CATTLE. 



The cottonseed cake was fed each evening about sundown in 

 troughs placed in the pasture. Pools in the open pastures furnished 

 the only source of water supply for the steers, and became very low 

 and foul during the extended dr}^ period. Salt was provided each 

 week. 



Individual weights of all the steers were taken at the beginning 

 and at the end of the experiment, and each lot was weighed every 28 

 days. As the cattle were free from ticks, no dipping was done. 



RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT. 



Table 6 gives in brief the general features and results of the ex- 

 periment. 



Table 6. — Results of summer steer feeding in Mississippi, 1915. 



Item. 



Lotl. 



Pasture 

 alone. 



Lot 2. 



Pasture 

 and cotton- 

 seed cake. 



Number of steers 



Days of feeding period 



Average daily ration per head: 



Cottonseed cake pounds. 



Cost of feed and pasture per 100 pounds gain 



Cost per head to feed through summer 



Initial cost of steers per 100 pounds 



SelUng price of steers per 100 pounds 



Average profit per steer 



Per cent dressed 



Average initial weight per head - pounds. 



Average final weight per head do. . . 



Average total gain per head do. . . 



Average daily gain per head do. . . 



20 

 107 



$1.06 



SI. 91 



85.00 



$5.75 



$7.19 



0) 



678 



853 



180 



1.68 



20 

 107 



3.65 



$3.44 



$7.37 



$5.00 



$6.35 



$9.61 



50.8 



678 



892 



214 



2.00 



1 Lot 1 sold as stockers. 



DAILY RATIONS. 



The average daily ration of cottonseed cake for the steers of lot 2 

 was 3.65 pounds each. They were given 2 pounds a head daily at 

 the beginning, which was gradually increased during the first month 



