30 BULLETIN 631, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
purchased calves were weaned, dehorned, marked, and turned into 
an alfalfa field until the experiment was started. The home-raised 
calves were weaned, dehorned, and marked just a few days before the 
experiment was to start. All the calves had been dropped in the 
spring and were from 7 to 8 months old when weaned. 
The calves were weighed individually on November 11, and again 
on the 12th. on which date they were divided into three similar lots 
and started on feed. 
OBJECTS OF THE WORK. 
In the Alabama experiments the calves were given small rations 
of grain for comparatively short periods. They made satisfactory 
gains and were in good killing order but were not well finished at the 
close of the tests. In this test it was decided to feed the calves for a 
longer period and to give them a heavier grain ration in order to have 
them well finished before they were sold. 
The objects of this test were: 
1. To see if good grade calves such as can be raised easily in Mis- 
sissippi can be finished for the market economically and profitably. 
2. To make a comparative study of the value of cottonseed meal 
alone, a combination of cottonseed meal and shelled corn, and shelled 
corn alone, as concentrated feeds to be used in finishing calves that 
were to be fed silage as the principal roughage, with a small amount 
of alfalfa hay. 
3. To determine approximately how much manure could be saved 
by feeding calves on a concrete floor under shelter. 
CHARACTER AND PRICES OF THE FEEDS USED. 
As this test was a comparison of grain feeds, the same kind of 
roughage was fed to all three lots. Feeders generally have the im- 
pression that cattle which are being fattened will do somewhat better 
if they are given a small amount of some palatable hay when they 
are fed corn silage as the chief roughage. For this reason the calves 
of all lots were given about 4^ pounds of alfalfa hay per day in addi- 
tion to all of the corn silage they would eat. 
The cottonseed meal used was bright and of good quality, analyz- 
ing from 7^ to 8 per cent of ammonia. The corn was of good quality, 
being well matured and sound. The silage was of good quality, hav- 
ing been cut at the proper stage and carrying considerable grain. 
The corn probably would have yielded 45 bushels to the acre. The 
alfalfa was of rather low grade, as it had been damaged by heavy 
dews. 
