FATTENING OF STEERS IX NORTH CAROLINA. 7 



morning and corn stover and straw in the afternoon. The ear corn 

 fed during the last few weeks to Lots 1 and 5 was chopped and given 

 at one feed in the morning. The corn stover and straw were mixed 

 together in equal quantities anrl run through a feed cutter before being 

 fed. Where com stover, hay, and straw were used, as in Lot 5 the 

 last year, the feeds were fed separately in equal parts. The steers 

 were allowed to run in the lots surrounding the barns about tlu-ee 

 hours each afternoon. If the weather was inclement they were left 

 out only long enough to get water. The cattle were weighed 

 every 28 days, early in the morning before being fed or watered. 



The steers in Lot 4 each year, which were winter-grazed, had no 

 shelter on pasture except the windbreaks furnished by the trees, hills, 

 and mountains. During snowy weather, however, they were fed at 

 the barn on a light ration of corn stover, straw and ear corn. 

 As soon as the snow melted they were taken back to the pasture. 



The steers were changed from the wintering rations in the spring 

 as early as the grass would carry them without injury to its subse- 

 quent growth. They were given salt in the pasture once every week. 



During the summers they were driven from the pastures to the 

 scales once every four weeks and weighed as early as it was possible 

 to round them up in the morning. Then they were immediately 

 driven back to the pasture. The cattle were numbered with a tag 

 in each ear for identification in keeping individual weights. They 

 were given approximately 3 acres of pasture per steer. 



I. WINTER RATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE GAINS OF 



2-YEAR-OLD STEERS. 



QUANTITY OF FEED CONSUMED. 



The reader should keep in mind that it was not intended to do 

 more than to keep the steers in good, thrifty, growing condition. 

 It was expected they would lose some weight during the wintering 

 period. Table 2 shows the total amount of feed consumed and the 

 average daily ration per steer during each of the three winters. 



The various digressions from the rations specified in Table 2 were 

 necessary either to supplement the standard ration, as in the case of 

 the mixed hay each year, the stover hay and straw the last year, 

 and the winter pasture when it was covered with snow, so that the 

 steers would not lose too heavily in weight, or to supplement or 

 replace some feed the supply of which failed to last throuixhout the 

 feeding period, as in the cas(> kI' the silage each year. The unusual 

 severity of the winter of 191 7-1 s made it necessary to feed the winter- 

 grazed cattle supplenKMital feed twice as many days as in 1010-17 

 and 191S-19. 



