70 BEEF PRODUCTION 



(figured at normal prices, 35 cents for corn and $8 for 

 clover hay) produced a gain of 3605 pounds (Chicago 

 weight) on the steers and 542 pounds on the hogs, while 

 in the timothy hay and corn stover lot $251.24 worth 

 of feed produced only 2498 pounds gain on steers and 

 482 pounds on the hogs. 



The records of this experiment clearly show the rela- 

 tively greater efficiency of the corn and clover hay ration 

 as compared with the corn, timothy hay, and corn stover 

 ration for beef production. That the advantages of the 

 former were due entirely to the nature of the roughage 

 fed is probable since corn was the concentrate used in 

 both instances. Notwithstanding the fact that the 

 corn and clover hay ration was more effective for beef 

 production, it appeared also to be very favorable to pork 

 production, as much more pork was produced by the 

 pigs following this lot of steers and more pork per pound 

 grain fed to the steers than where timothy hay and corn 

 stover made up the roughage part of the ration. 



CLOVER HAY AND CORN MAKE GOOD GAINS 



As would be expected from a comparison of the gains 

 made in the two lots, the steers in the lot making the 

 largest gains were more nearly finished than the others. 

 That is to say, the lot fed on corn and clover hay sold 

 for 30 cents per hundredweight more than the lot fed 

 on corn, timothy hay, and corn stover. The shrinkage in 

 shipping from Champaign to Chicago per steer in the for- 

 mer lot was but 35 pounds to the latter's 41. With corn 

 at 35 cents per bushel, clover hay at $8 per ton, timothy 

 hay at $10, and corn stover at $4, the profit per 

 steer in feeding the rations discussed above was for the 

 corn and clover hay lot, $11.89; for the corn, timothy 

 hay, and corn stover lot, $4.50. This should be sufficient 

 argument to encourage the growing of clover or alfalfa 

 for cattle feeding purposes. The two-year-old cattle 

 used in this test contained considerable Shorthorn blood, 

 but would not grade above medium to good and ordi- 



