FATTENING CATTLE IN ALABAMA. 
19 
QUANTITY AND COST OF FEED REQUIRED TO MAKE 100 POUNDS OF 
GAIN. 
Table 7 shows the number of pounds of feed required to make 
100 pounds of gain in each lot ; the cost of the cottonseed cake to 
make the gains ; and also the cost when both the cake and the pas- 
ture are charged against the gains. With the exception of the case 
where alfalfa hay was used (lot G, 1910), the increase in live weight 
during the fattening period was put on at a profit. That is, each 
pound added to the weight of the steers during the fattening period 
did not cost as much as it sold for on the market. This is an unusual 
state of affairs in fattening cattle, as under average winter condi- 
tions, and summer conditions also, where heavy supplementary gram 
feed is given, each pound of increase during the fattening period is 
made at a loss, the profit in feeding coming from the increase in 
value of the original weight. 
The economical gains in these tests were mainly due to two factors : 
First, the daily gains were satisfactory, notwithstanding the fact that 
a small amount of high-priced feeds was consumed by each steer, and 
second, the animals were grazing a pasture, which is the cheapest feed 
that can possibly be obtained in Alabama. When a large amount of 
concentrated feed is used to supplement the pasture, the cost of the 
increase in weight will be much more expensive than was the case in 
these experiments. 
Table 7. — Quantity and cost of feed required to make 100 pounds of gain. 
April 7 to August 3, 1910 (118 Days). 
Ration. 
Quantity 
of feed to 
make 100 
pounds of 
of gain. 
Cost to make 100 
pounds of gain. 
Lot. 
Not includ- 
ing cost of 
pasture. 
Including 
cost of 
pasture. 
A 
Pasture alone 
Pounds. 
$1.10 
B 
176 cake... 
/187cake... 
\122hay.... 
$2.29 
} 3.41 
3 19 
G 
Pasture, cottonseed cake, and alfalfa hay 
4 37 
April 21-September 8, 1911 (141 Days). 
A 
Pasture alone 
$1 02 
B 
229 cake. . . 
$2.98 
4.03 
The cheapest gains, of course, were made in the two lots where 
nothing was fed but pasture. But the conclusion should not be 
immediately drawn that the greatest profits were realized on these 
two lots. While exceedingly economical gains were made, the steers 
were cheap at the end on account of not being fat, and were sold for 
low prices. The financial statement sets this forth. 
