CALF FEEDING IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. 
17 
prices of the State. In this test, as well as in the previous one, the 
cost of making 100 pounds of gain was not excessive. 
Table 8. — Quantity and cost of feed required to make 100 pounds of gain. 
Lot 
No 
Ration. 
Total 
Average 
feed 
feed to 
eaten 
make 100 
by each 
pounds 
calf. 
of gain. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
245 
175 
1,329 
946 
164 
144 
617 
536 
82 
72 
1, 249 
1,084 
267 
176 
614 
438 
1,225 
875 
Average 
cost of 
feed to 
make 100 
pounds 
of gain. 
(Cottonseed meal 
\Cottonseed hulls 
{Cottonseed meal, two-thirds 
Cottonseed hulls 
Corn chop, one-third 
Corn silage 
(Cottonseed meal 
■{Cottonseed hulls , 
(Corn silage 
J5.59 
5.13 
The cheapest gains were made in lot 3, where a ration of cotton- 
seed meal, cottonseed hulls, and corn silage was used, as each 100 
pounds of increase in live weight cost $5.13. It should not be in- 
ferred immediately, however, from the above that this combination 
of feeds is the best of the three. The cost of the gains does not 
determine absolutely the final profits. Although the cost of the 
gains is a very important factor in determining final profits, there 
are other factors which must be taken, into consideration as well. 
The final selling price of the cattle must be considered as an impor- 
tant factor. If expensive gains are accompanied by a proportionate 
increase in the final value and selling price of the cattle, the cost of 
the gains is a minor consideration; but if expensive gains do not 
increase the final selling price of the animal in proportion to the 
increased expense of making the gains those feeds which have caused 
the expensive gains should be eliminated. The most expensive gains 
were encountered in lot 2, where corn chop replaced a part of the 
cottonseed meal. In this lot it cost $6.09 to make 100 pounds of 
increase in weight. Where only cottonseed meal and cottonseed hulls 
were fed (lot 1) each 100 pounds of gain was made at a cost of $5.59. 
When the results of lots 1 and 3 are compared it is seen that 875 
pounds of corn silage saved 508 pounds of cottonseed hulls. At this 
rate 1 ton of corn silage saved 1,161 pounds of cottonseed hulls; 
when hulls are valued at $7 a ton the corn silage, therefore, was 
worth for fattening these calves $4.06 a ton. 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE SILAGE PERIOD. 
The supply of silage Avas exhausted March 3, 1913. The calves 
had been in the feed lot only 94 days and they were not in condition 
to be sold at that date. Therefore they were all thrown together 
10709°— 18— Bull. 631 3 
