G BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
In making rye hay the seed is sown in the fall, as it would be for 
raising grain, except that more seed per acre is used. In the spring 
just before the rye blooms it is cut and cured. 
The composition and nutritive ratio of the rations fed are given in 
Table 3. 
Table 3.— Dry matter, protein, carbohydrates, fat, and nutritive ratio of rations fed 
each year. 
Lot 
No. 
Eation. 
Average 
quantity 
per 
steer 
daily. 
Composition. 
Nutritive 
ratio. 
Dry 
matter. 
Protein. 
Carbo- 
hydrates. 
Fat. 
1 
Corn silage 
Pounds. 
» 20.0 
5.0 
2.54 
Pounds. 
5.26 
4.39 
2.33 
Pounds. 
0.220 
.200 
.018 
Pounds. 
3.000 
1. 985 
.891 
Pounds. 
0.140 
.055 
.013 
Mixed hay 
Wheat straw 
1 1 -14 5 
Corn silage 
Wheat straw 
11.98 
.438 
5. 876 
.208 
- 
2 
23.1 
4.9 
i. 
6.08 
4.49 
.93 
.254 
.034 
.334 
3. 465 
1.720 
.243 
.162 
.025 
.0/9 
| 
Cottonseed meal 
i 1 :9. 7 
Mixed hay 
11.50 
. 622 5. 428 
.266 
■* 
3 
11.9 
4.07 
10.45 
3.73 
.476 
.028 
4.724 
1.429 
.131 
.020 
] 
> 1:12.9 
14.18 
.504 
6. 153 
.151 
J 
4 
20.0 
6.0 
5.26 
5.48 
.220 
.702 
3.000 
2.352 
.140 
.072 
| 
\ 1 :6.3 
10.74 
.922 
5.352 
.212 
) 
5 
20.0 
6.0 
.5 
5.26 
5.51 
.46 
.220 
.204 
.167 
3.000 
2.760 
.122 
.140 
.066 
.039 
1 
I 1 :10.9 
11.23 
.591 
5.882 
, a 
From the foregoing table it is seen that the quantity of dry mat- 
ter fed was practically the same in all lots, the chief difference in the 
ration being in the proportion of protein to carbohydrates. 
CHARACTER OF PASTURE. 
Each year the steers were turned on a rather rough pasture of 
about 160 acres, one-fourth of which is in woodland. The pasture is 
situated in a valley between two small mountains, and a small stream 
which flows through it provides an abundance of fresh water at all 
times throughout the summer. 
The soil is of limestone formation, and a good growth of blue grass 
with much white clover is found on all parts of the pasture not in 
timber. Under normal climatic conditions there is rainfall enough 
to keep the grass growing throughout the season. The latter part of 
the summer of 1917 was rather dry, however, and during August of 
that year the steers made but small gains. 
