72 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



The quantity and kinds of food eaten by each animal are shown 

 in the following table : 



The hay was fed according to the appetites of the steers, but 

 of the grain a weighed quantity was given each day, the amount 

 being three pounds daily per animal during the first five months 

 of the experiment, and four pounds during the last three months. 



It is to be noticed that the amount of food consumed by the 

 different animals did not vary greatly. 



Food Consumed by Steers, Nov. 7th to June 27th, 233 Days. 



Hay 



Cotton-seed meal. 



Ground oats 



Wheat bran 



Corn meal 



Ensilage 



Hay eaten daily (average) 



Grain eaten daily (average) 



Ensilage eaten daily (average) 



Holstein. 



Steer 1.1 Steer 2, 



lbs. 

 2340 

 272 

 272 

 273 



1894 



10. 

 3.5 

 8.1 



lbs. 

 2220 



272 



273 



272 



1841 



9.5 

 3.5 

 7.9 



Shorthorn. 



Steer 



lbs. 

 2168 

 272 

 272 

 273 



1871 



9.3 

 3.5 



8.0 



Steer 4, 



lbs. 

 2275 



272 

 273 

 272 



1878 



9.8 

 3.5 



8.0 



Hereford. 



Steer 5. Steer 6. 



lbs. 

 2240 

 272 

 272 

 273 



1844 



9.6 

 3.5 

 7.9 



lbs. 

 2235 



272 



273 



272 



1770 



3.5 



7.6 



The figures of the next table show the weights of the animals 

 at the beginning and at the end of the experiment, the total gain 

 in weight and the average daily gain. 





Holstein. 



Shorthorn. 



Here 

 : Steer 5. 



ford. 





Steer 1. Steer 2. 



Steer 3. 



lbs. 

 342 



707 



Steer 4. 



lbs. 

 413 

 808 



Steer 6. 



Weight of steers Nov. 7-9 



lbs. 

 380 

 822 



lbs. 

 332 

 720 



lbs. 

 459 

 802 



lbs. 

 429 

 791 





442 

 1.90 



388 

 1.66 



365 

 1.57 



395 

 1.70 



343 

 1.47 



362 





1.55 



If this experiment were to be considered as a fair trial of 

 breeds, it would be necessary to state that the Holstein steers 

 made the largest growth and the Hereford the least, but it would 

 be decidedly unfair to assume that in a two years' test the rela- 

 tive growth would stand in the same order. The amount of 

 growth was very satisfactory with all the animals, ranging from 

 1.46 pounds per day with one of the Herefords to 1.9 pounds per 

 day with one of the Holsteins, the average for the six animals 

 being 1.64 pounds. 



The most important testimony which this experiment gives is in 

 regard to the influence of the kind of food upon the amount of 

 growth produced. As before stated, three of the animals, one 

 from each breed, were fed a much more nitrogenous ration than 

 were the other three. Those animals which ate cotton seed meal 



