74 



BEEF PRODUCTION 



and grain ration is fed through the self leeder to cattle 

 that are to be fed for a short period only, such cattle 

 can be put on full feed much quicker and at a less risk 

 than when fed in the ordinary way. This has been 

 well illustrated in an experiment conducted at the Illi- 

 nois Experiment Station. A number of good to choice 

 fleshy three-year-old feeders were selected and divided 

 into two lots of fourteen each, and fed for a period of 

 89 days. Lot 1 was fed corn meal, oil meal, and clover 

 hay by the ordinary method of hand feeding. Lot 2 

 was fed on the same feed-stuffs, but the clover hay was 

 cut into two-inch lengths and mingled with the grain 

 and the mixture was fed through a self feeder, to which 

 the cattle had access at all times. The full grain ration 

 was reached by gradually increasing the proportion of 

 concentrates to roughage. Both lots were given all 

 the grain they would consume without causing diges- 

 tive disorders and getting them off fed. The entire 

 feeding period was divided into six periods of two 

 weeks each. The proportion of concentrates to rough- 

 age for the different periods is shown by the following 

 table : 



There was quite a marked difference between the 

 two lots in the time required to reach full feed, the total 

 amount of feed consumed, the proportion of concen- 

 trates to roughage, and the rate and cost of gains, the 

 difference in every case being in favor of Lot 2. The 

 maximum concentrate consumption was reached in the 

 fourth period in the case of Lot 2, while with Lot 1 it was 

 not reached until the fifth period, showing that Lot 2 

 was on full feed about two weeks sooner than Lot 1. 

 There was a larger total consumption of feed in Lot 2 



