202 



Feeding Value of Roots. 



stated that the cattle of both lots did equally well, that the 

 substitute cost 9s. 8d. per ton of roots saved, and that the ration 

 fed to Lot 1 was to be preferred to the ration fed to Lot 2. 



In 1901-2, the experiment began on November 30th, and 

 continued, for all the animals (with one exception) until 

 April 28th, when two from each lot went to market. The 

 others were sold at various dates up to June 16th. The cattle 

 in Lot 1 received 28 lb. swedes, along with 3 lb. linseed cake, 

 i-| lb. maize meal ; \ lb. treacle ; \ oz. spice ; and hay. The 

 cattle in Lot 2 got the same foods as Lot 1, except that in place 

 of the 28 lb. swedes they got 2| lb. seeds hay, \ lb. maize meal, 

 and \ lb. treacle. The total cost of feeding Lot 1 for the 

 experimental period of j 65 days was £6 12s. 2d. per head ; the 

 cost of feeding Lot 2 was £6 18s. 5d. The roots consumed per 

 head by Lot 1 amounted in 165 days to 41 £ cwt, which at 4d. 

 per cwt. cost 13s. 9d. The food substituted for roots in Lot 2 

 cost £1. 



The cattle in Lot 1 produced 13 lb. more beef per head than 

 those of Lot 2, and though owing to a rise in prices Lot 2 made 

 £d. more per lb. the actual returns from Lot 1 were 7s. 2d. per 

 head more than from Lot 2. 



The net result, therefore, was that the animals in Lot 2 cost 

 6s. 3d. per head more to feed, and were worth 7s. 2d. per head 

 less when marketed, so that there was 13s. 5d. per head more 

 profit in Lot 1 than in Lot 2. 



It is to be noted that in the previous year's experiments, when 

 only half the root ration of 56 lb. was replaced by other foods, 

 the substitute was found as satisfactory as the roots replaced, 

 for the two lots of cattle were of equal value at the end of the 

 experiment ; but in 1901-2, when the entire root ration of 28 lb. 

 was withdrawn, the substitute was by no means so satisfactory, 

 since at the end of 165 days' feeding the cattle in Lot 2 were 

 worth 7s. 2d. per head less than those fed on swedes. 



The conclusions drawn from the experiments are that though 

 well-bred yearling cattle may be fattened without roots on the 

 rations given to Lot 2 in 190 1-2, this ration is not recommended 

 but that at least 28 lb. of swedes should be fed daily, and 42 lb 

 to 56 lb. may be given with profit. 



In these experiments, during the fattening period live weight 



