WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 7 
METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING THE STEERS. 
In the fall before starting the steers on the winter feed they were 
divided into lots of 10 each. In this division care was taken to have 
the lots as nearly the same as possible in regard to quality, breeding, 
size, and condition. These different lots were given the same amount 
of space in open sheds with small outside lots about 30 by 60 feet in 
size. Water was supplied in these lots at all times, and salt was 
constantly available. The cattle were fed twice a day. 
The feed, both concentrates and roughages, was weighed each 
time and accurate records of it made. The steers were weighed at 
the beginning and at the end of the feeding period, the weights being 
taken 3 days in succession and an average taken for their initial and 
final weight. They were weighed also every 28 days. For identifi- 
cation, neck straps with numbers on them were used and individual 
weights taken in the morning after feeding. 
I. WINTER RATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE GAINS OF 
YEARLING STEERS. 
QUANTITY OF FEED CONSUMED. 
In considering the quantity of feed consumed it should be kept in 
mind that these cattle were getting only maintenance rations, but 
enough to keep them in good, strong, thrifty condition. Table 4 
shows the total amount of different feeds eaten in the various lots 
and the average daily ration per steer in each lot during each of the 
four winters. 
Table 4. — Average total and daily rations during four winters. 
1914-15. 
Lot 
No. 
Number 
of steers. 
Days. 
Ration. 
Total 
feed per 
steer. 
Daily 
feed per 
steer. 
10 
12S 
12S 
12S 
Corn silage 
Mixed hay 
Wheat straw 
Corn silage 
Wheat straw 
Cottonseed meal 
Mixed hay 
Straw 
1915-16. 
Pounds. 
2,111.5 
653.0 
429.0 
3,105.0 
561.0 
127.5 
1,278.5 
602.5 
Pounds. 
17.0 
5.0 
3.4 
25.0 
4.3 
1.0 
10.0 
4.7 
1 
10 
10 
10 
122 
122 
122 
2,440.0 
610.0 
265.0 
3,050.0 
610.0 
122.0 
1,464.0 
530.0 
20.0 
5.0 
2.2 
2 
25.0 
5.0 
1.0 
3 
12.0 
4.3 
