6 BITLLETIiSr 13^ U. S. DEPAETMEiv^T OF AGRICULTURE. 



was these fields which made it possible to get the cows through the 

 winter in such a cheap manner. 



The calves were not put in the fattening lot at the date of weamng, 

 September 25. It had been planned to graze two or three fields by 

 them before the finishing period arrived; consequently, as soon as 

 they were taken from the cows, they were placed in a 50-acre field 

 containing cornstalks, crab grass, and cowpeas. The peas had been 

 planted at the last cultivation of the corn. The calves remained in 

 this field until October 7, when they were transferred to a field of 

 peanuts, which had been grown for hogs; they were taken to this 

 field to graze off the tops of the peanuts. This small field afforded 

 grazing for nine days, or until October 16, when the calves were taken 

 back to the first field of old cornstalks and peas, where they were kept 

 until November 24. This field did not, however, afford sufficient feed 

 to produce gains, so on October 28 it was decided to add cottonseed 

 cake. The cake was introduced at the rate of 1 pound per calf daily 

 and gradually increased to 2 pounds. The 50-acre cornfield was so 

 completely grazed by November 24 as to provide no further feed, so 

 the calves were transferred to a second field of cornstalks, cowpeas, 

 and crab grass, which had been saved for them. They remained in 

 this second field, all the while eating 2 pounds of cottonseed cake per 

 calf per day, until December 21, when they were taken to the barn, 

 shut up in a small lot, and started on a preliminary ration of cotton- 

 seed meal, corn silage, and broom-sedge hay.- By January 17 they 

 were all accustomed to the new ration, and the fattening period was 

 inaugurated. On this date the}' averaged approximately 9h months 

 of age. The following brief statement gives a short summary of the 

 important facts of the cost of raising these calves to 9 J months of age: 



Cost to raise calves to an age of 9^ months. 



To 6,390 pounds of cottonseed cake eaten by the cows from Jan. 1, 1911, to 



Jan. 1, 1912, at $26 a ton $83. 07 



To pasture rent for whole herd of 80 cows 250. 00 



To taxes on $2,380 invested in cattle 4. 60 



To interest on $2,380 invested in cattle, at 6 per cent 142. 80 



To 4,750 pounds of cottonseed cake fed calves in November and December. .. 61. 75 



To 3.425 pounds of cottonseed meal fed calves Dec. 21 to Jan. 16 44. 53 



To 24,035 pounds of silage fed calves Dec. 21 to Jan. 16 36. 05 



To labor devoted to cattle during year 58. 50 



To 10 per cent depreciation in value of breeding cattle 238. 00 



Total cost of 64 calves to 9^ months of age 919. 30 



Average weight of each calf Jan. 16, 1912 pounds. . 460 



Average cost of each calf $14. 36 



Average cost per hundredweight 3. 12 



In studying the above financial statement the reader should under- 

 stand that the cost of raismg calves varies very materially from place 



