WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 7 



METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING THE STEERS. 



In the fall before starting the steers on the winter feed they were 

 divided into lots of 10 each. In this division care was taken to have 

 the lots as nearly the same as possible in regard to quality, breeding, 

 size, and condition. These different lots were given the same amount 

 of space in open sheds with small outside lots about 30 by 60 feet in 

 size. Water was supplied in these lots at all times, and salt was 

 constantly available. The cattle were fed twice a day. 



The feed, both concentrates and roughages, was weighed each 

 time and accurate records of it made. The steers were weighed at 

 the beginning and at the end of the feeding period, the weights being 

 taken 3 days in succession and an average taken for their initial and 

 final weight. They were weighed also every 28 days. For identifi- 

 cation, neck straps with numbers on them were used and individual 

 weights taken in the morning after feeding. 



WINTER RATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE 

 YEARLING STEERS. 



GAINS OF 



QUANTITY OF FEED CONSUMED. 



In considering the quantity of feed consumed it should be kept in 

 mind that these cattle were getting only maintenance rations, but 

 enough to keep them in good, strong, thrifty condition. Table 4 

 shows the total amount of different feeds eaten in the various lots 

 and the average daily ration per steer in each lot during each of the 

 four winters. 



Table 4. — Average total and daily rations during four winters. 



1914-15. 



Lot 



No. 



Number 

 of steers. 



Days. 



1 



10 



128 



2 



10 



128 



3 



10 



128 



Ration. 



Total 



feed per 



steer. 



Daily 



feed per 



steer. 



Corn silage 



Mixed hay 



Wheat straw 



Corn silage 



Wheat straw 



Cottonseed meal 



Mixed hay 



Straw 



1915-16 



Corn silage 



Mixed hay 



Wheat straw 



Corn silage 



Wheat straw 



Cottonseed meal 



Mixed hay 



Straw 



Pounds. 



2,111.5 



653.0 



429.0 



3,105.0 

 561.0 

 127.5 



1,278.5 

 602.5 



Pounds. 

 17.0 

 5.0 

 3.4 



25.0 

 4.3 

 1.0 



10.0 



• 4.7 



2,440.0 

 610.0 

 265.0 



3,050.0 

 610.0 

 122.0 



1,464.0 

 530.0 



20.0 

 5.0 

 2.2 



25.0 

 5.0 

 1.0 



12.0 

 4.3 



