68 BULLETIN 1031, U. S. DEPARTMEE'T OF AGRICL'LTUKE. 



did not make much growth from the time of weaning until green 

 grass came the next spring, the small amount of cottonseed cake kept 

 them in condition to respond readily when green feed came and pre- 

 vented loss from weakness or starvation. 



Calves under 6 months of age were fed corn and cane ensilage and 

 cottonseed meal at the rate of 14 pounds of ensilage and three-fourths 

 pound of meal per day. The extra feed was given the 3^oung 

 calves to avoid the danger of stunting by leaving them on the range 

 when weaned so young. The feeding of cottonseed cake only would 

 not have been suiRcient to prevent stunting. This feeding cost an 

 average of $9.14 per head in the fall and winter of 1917-18. 



There is little question that feeding at the rate of $2.56 per head 

 or even $4.71 is a good business investment, as was apparent in the 

 sales of a part of the steer calves fed. In May, 1916, 100 head of long 

 yearlings from the 350 steers out of the total of 700 heifers and steers 

 weaned early in the previous winter and fed, were placed with the 

 two-year-old steers and sold at regular two-year-old prices. At that 

 time there was $10 difference between the j)rices of a yearling and a 

 two-year-old steer. In the spring of 1917, about 40 head were sold in 

 the same manner, and 100 head were sold at two-year-old prices in 

 the fall of 1917 when 18 months old. However, a part of this' is also 

 to be attributed to improvement of grade. Heifer calves, fed, made 

 similar gain, showing tlie advantage to the calf of feed and extra 

 care. Even so great an expenditure as $9.14 per head in 1917-18 is 

 not thought unwarranted when everything is considered. The 

 calves fed were all heifers, and no sales were made, but they made 

 normal gain and were up to the average weight for j^earlings in June, 

 1918, while calves that followed the cows on the range were 25 per 

 cent underweight at that date. A great advantage is given a cow 

 when she is allowed the benefit of being dry several months previous 

 to and during the most critical part of the year, and no small part of 

 the success in keeping down the losses on the Jornada Eange Eeserve 

 since 1915 is attributed directly to early weaning of the calves. 



Supplemental feeding. — In any herd, no matter how much dry 

 winter forage is available, there will always be at least a few un- 

 thrifty cows that may be lost if left to shift for themselves on the 

 range. There might also be times when reserve forage or other 

 measures may be insufficient to meet the demands for keeping down 

 losses. Under these circumstances the use of supplemental feeding, 

 in so far as it is economical, will assist in keeping down loss. 



Feeding of cottonseed cahe to 'poor cows. — ^When cows have become 

 very poor and weak and the dry winter forage is too low in nutritive 

 value to save them from starvation, a small amount of concentrated 

 feed to supplement the range forage will make a better balanced 



