4 ; BULLETIN 1251, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
KIND OF STEERS USED. 
The steers used were long 2-year-old grade Shorthorn, Hereford, 
and Aberdeen-Angus, raised in southern West Virginia. They were 
good feeder steers, quite uniform in quality and condition. They 
ranged in weight from 800 to 1,200 pounds and averaged 964 pounds 
at the beginning of the winter periods. 
FEEDS USED. 
Samples of each of the feeds used were taken at different times 
during the winter periods and sent to the Department of Chemistry, 
West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Morgantown, W. Va., 
to be analyzed. The averages of these analyses are given in Table 2. 
The average analyses of similar feeds, as compiled by the Bureau of 
Chemistry, United States Department of Agriculture, are shown for 
comparison. 
TaBLE 2.—Composition of feeds used, as analyzed by the West Virginia station, 
compared with average analyses of similar feeds as made by the United States De- 
partment of Agriculture. 
Carbohydrates. 
i Mois- Crude 
Feed. Source of analyses. Pao Ash. protein. Gua Sie Fat. 
fiber. | £¢2 free 
* | extract. 
: : Per cent.| Per cent.| Per cent.| Per cent.| Per cent.| P er cent 
Gommaiice West Virginia Station...........- 72.9 1.8 2.2 6. 16. 1 0.8 
E pecs u. Ss. VD PALeleH of Agriculture. . iD 9 1.4 2.4 6.9 17.5 .9 
P est Virginia Station.......2.-.. ail 4.1 6.3 33. 7 47.0 1.8 
Mixed hay... {u. S. Department of Agriculture!.| | 12.7 6.2 10.2 26. 2 41.7 3.0 
West Virginia station...........- 6.9 3.3 3.6 41.6 43.4 1-2 
Wheat straw {v. S. Department of Agriculture. 9.6 4,2 3.4 38. 1 43. 4 1.3 
Baricou West Virginia station.......--... 11.4 1.2 7.2 6.8 72.2 AY 
DS ae U. S. Department of Agriculture. 15.6 1.5 8.3 6.8 64. 4 3.4 
Cottonseed |f West Virginia station............ 1.2 6.4 42.1 8.0 29.0 iso 
meal. {U, S. Department of Agriculture.? Ua Sait 41.7 10.0 28. 4 (ei 
1 Caleulated, using half red-clover hay and half timothy hay. 
2 Choice cottonseed meal. 
From the analyses it is evident that the feeds used were somewhat 
below the average in quality. The cottonseed meal was slightly bet- 
ter than the average of that which is graded as “choice” by the 
Association of Feed Control Officials of the United States. The 
silage was made from dent corn. eos 
A three-year rotation of crops, consisting of corn, wheat, and hay, 
is practiced quite generally in southern West Virginia. Timothy is 
sown with the wheat in the fall and red clover is sown on the same 
field in the spring. This provides, in the year following the wheat 
crop, a mixed hay of approximately half timothy and half clover. 
The mixed hay used in this work was obtained in this manner. 
CHARACTER OF PASTURE. 
Each year the steers were turned on to a rather hilly pasture of 
about 300 acres. A small stream, which flows through the pasture, 
provides an abundance of fresh water throughout the summer. 
The soil is of limestone formation. A good growth of bluegrass 
with white clover is found on all parts of the pasture. Under normal 
climatic conditions there is sufficient rainfall to keep the grass growing 
throughout the season. 
