562 CATTLE AND DAIEY FAEMING. 



Damaged -wheat can bo very economically used in the fattening of cattle— ftpouuda 

 per head per day give a daily increase of 2 pounds per head per day, at a cost of 4* 

 centsperpound to the live weight. 



Rice meal in tho fattening of cattle gave a daily increase of 1.81 pounds per head 

 per day, bv the use of 6 pounds per head per day, at a cost of about 7 cents per pound. 



Barley raeal in cattle fattening requires a large amount of other foods in association, 

 and Hi pounds per head per day gave a daily increase of 2.14 pounds per head per 

 day, at a cost of 7 cents per pound live weight. 



Corn meal took tho highest place in a daily rate of increase in the fattening of cat- 

 tle; 9i pounds per head daily gave 2.31 pounds per head per day, at a cost of Oi cents 

 per pound of the added animal weight. 



Pea meal gave the second best daily rate of increase at the least cost of all the reg- 

 ular cattle-feeding grains. Eight and oue-half pounds per head daily gave a rate of 

 2.28 pounds, at a cost of 5 cents per pound of the weiglit added to the an,imal. 



A pure-bred Shorthorn steor can bo brought to a weight of 1,700 pounds when one 

 month under two years old, or a daily rate of increase eqnal to ii pounds por day. 



Hereford grade steer calves can bo made to average (ill pounds in 238 days, or a 

 rate of 2f pounds per day. 



Aberdeen Poll grade steer calves can be made to average 720 pounds in 273 days, 

 or a rate of 2f pounds per day. 



During winter, a 1,000-pouud steer will consume daily 10 pounds hay, 33 pounds 

 turnips, 4 pounds bran, and 9 pounds of a mixture of grain, upon which it will add 

 2.11 ))Ouuds to its live weight. 



One pound of added weight to a 1,000-pound steer can be obtained from the use of 

 various materials that contain 11 pounds of dry substances chemically. 



By a lai'ge variety of experiments with several classes of cattle and many kinds of 

 food, we find the actual cost of adding 1 pound to the live weight of a l,OtlO-pound an- 

 imal is 6 cents to the feeder who grows his own materials, and nearly 12 cents when 

 tho food is bought in the regular market — manure and management not considered. 



Sugar beet, weight for weight with mangels and turnips, and in association with 

 equal kinds and quantities of other foods, gave the highest returns in feeding cattle, 

 or 2.70 pounds per liead per day. 



Mangels gave 2.38 pounds per head per day under similar conditions to the sugar beet. 



Turnips (Swede) added 2.30 pounds per day to the average steer that weighed l,0lil 

 ounds under conditions similar to mangels and sugar beet. 



There is either a simple natural reason, or a hidden chemical one, in the fact that 

 by the nse of less grain and more roots, cattle gave a greater daily return in live 

 weight. 



COST OF CHATHAM CATTLE. 



Sellinjy prices vary widely, not only with the breed but also with 

 the particular merits of the animals. Good pure bred bulls, fit for 

 service, can be had at from $100 to $300, and younger animals at con- 

 siderably lower prices, although it is not unusual to hear of fancy prices 

 being paid for extra good stock. 



BEEF EXPORT OF THE CHATHAM DISTRICT. 



The beef trade is principally with Great Britain, and is found to 

 grow more profitable as better stock is introduced. Beeves of 1,500 

 pounds and upwards pay well, and, as is obvious, the per capita cost 

 of marketing a steer of 1,000 pounds or one of 1,800 to 2,000 pounds 

 being the same, size is, for that consideration, as well as a demand in 

 the foreign market for heavy stock, a desirable attainment. The aver- 

 age ruling jSgures for some time past have been from 5J to 5| live 

 weight, while for export, prices have ruled higher, better stock being 

 required. 



Before the abrogation of the reciprocity treaty considerable traffic 

 in cattle was carried on between the United States and this province, 

 Tia Port Huron, Detroit, and Baftalo, notably the latter. This has since 

 greatly diminished, while the export to the British markets has largely 

 increased. 



Notwithstanding the small proportion of thoroughbreds in the dis- 

 trict, there is always a large surplus of excellent stock suitable for beef, 

 a fair proportion of which passes muster for the export trade. There 

 is no lack of buyers at the barnyards and at the agricultural fairs. 



