52 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



In order to clearly present the facts relative to the comparative 

 effects of the two rations upon the growth of the steers, as shown 

 by the preceding figures, it is desirable to first review briefly the 

 history of the experiment. 



Two pairs of steers were fed, one pair receiving a ration with a 

 nutritive ratio of about 1:5.2 and the other pair, a ration with a 

 much wider nutritive ratio, or one of about 1:9.7. When the experi- 

 ment had progressed for about seventeen months, one steer from each 

 pair was taken out and slaughtered, and the other two steers were 

 fed for ten months longer. The rations were weighed daily and the 

 steers weekly, and the silage and grains were analyzed, so that it is 

 possible to consider the relations of food growth during the entire 

 experiment or any part of it. 



If we consult the foregoing figures we see very clearly that the 

 two rations were quite unlike in their effect during the early stages 

 of the experiment, the nitrogenous ration producing much the 

 larger amount of growth. 



As the steers became older and the rations increased in quantity, 

 the difference in the rates of growth produced by the two rations 

 was somewhat less marked, until, at the age of seventeen months, 

 the growth of the two pairs was not greatly unlike. 



TABLE XXXV. 



£ I 



bap c 



11° 

 l> B ft 





SOobJ2 



a;* 3 ft 

 *5 o I 



c3 * L 



eg ^ 



At beginning of experiment 



At end of three months 



At end of six months 



At end of nine months 



At end of twelve months . 

 At end of fifteen months.... 

 At end of seventeen months 



566 

 778 

 1,010 

 1,379 

 1,618 

 1,861 

 1,981 



603 

 746 

 921 

 1,249 

 1,475 

 1,677 

 1,807 



—37 



+32 

 +89 

 +130 

 +143 



+184 

 +174 



69 

 57 

 41 

 13 

 41 

 —10 



Not only do the above figures plainly indicate the superiority for 

 the young animals of the ration richer in protein, but the same 

 fact was made very evident by the general condition of the steers. 

 Steers 1 and 2 had an appearance of greater thrift than steers 3 and 4 

 which was unmistakable. 



The superiority of the protein rich over the protein-poor ration 

 during the first year of growth is shown emphatically, also, by the 

 difference in digestible dry matter required in the two cases to 

 produce a pound of growth. 



