EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF GRAZING. 



11 



WEIGHING THE CATTLE. 



The most important feature of this experiment in relation to the 

 cattle used is that they are weighed at regular intervals and their 

 gains determined in much the same manner as in experimental feed 

 lots. While the total gain of the cattle for the season is the measure 

 of ultimate interest and importance, the gains for various periods 

 of the season are also highly significant. The cattle have been 

 weighed throughout the experiment at the end of regular 30-day 

 periods. Whenever the grazing season has begun before June 1, 

 the cattle have been weighed at the start in May and again on May 

 31. This has been done in order to make the gains correspond to 

 the months. At the beginning and close of the season the cattle 

 are weighed on three consecutive days and the average of the three 

 weighings determined for the initial and final weights. 











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Fig. 4.- 



Two-year-old steers of the type used during the season of 1920. This 

 was on the rotation pasture. 



When the experiment first started the cattle were weighed in two 

 groups for each pasture except the ones on the reserve pasture, which 

 were weighed individually. The cattle of all pastures are now 

 weighed individually. This method of weighing has proved more 

 satisfactory than any other, as the cattle do not become as excited at 

 weighing time. In order to keep a record of the individual steers 

 they are branded with serial numbers. 



When the initial weights of the cattle are obtained the steers are 

 divided into groups for the various pastures. The total weights of 

 the different groups are made as nearly equal as possible. The 

 average initial weight for 10 steers has been about 7,500 pounds. 

 In dividing the cattle, attention is also paid to the matter of breeds, 

 the aim being to make as nearly uniform groups for each pasture 

 as possible. The cattle have free access to water at all times and 



