452 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XI, No. to 
pounds in weight. On October 21 he weighed 1,141 pounds and was put 
on 3, preliminary ration of the same feed mixture used in the experiment 
proper. The latter began on November 2, 1913. 1 At that time the 
animal was in good condition but not fat. A standard feed, consisting 
of uniform proportions of alfalfa hay and a mixture of concentrates, 
was used throughout the experiment. During period 1 an approximate 
maintenance ration of this standard feed was given, while during period 
2 the amount was increased to the maximum which the animal would 
consume. A comparison of these two periods in the same manner as in 
previous investigations served to show the utilization of the feed by the 
animal. 
At the close of period 2, on December 22, the steer was placed in the 
hands of the Animal Husbandry Department of the College for fattening 
and was fed by them until March 14, during which time he gained about 
300 pounds and was brought into prime condition. The appearance of 
the steer before and after fattening is shown by the two figures of plate 
41, taken November 3 and March 14, respectively. 
In the second half of the experiment, beginning March 15, 1914, the 
comparison of periods 1 and 2 was repeated in the reverse order. In 
period 3 the animal was given as heavy a ration of the standard feed 
mixture as it was thought he would consume, although in fact a little was 
left uneaten. This was followed by period 4, in whjich an approximate 
maintenance ration was fed. A comparison of periods 3 and 4 served to 
show the utilization of feed energy by the fattened animal. 
RATIONS AND PERIODS 
The mixture of concentrates employed consisted of 1 part by weight 
(air-dry) of cottonseed meal, 2 parts of wheat bran, and 6 parts of maize 
meal. The standard feed consisted of 2 parts by weight (air-dry) of this 
mixture and 1 part of alfalfa hay. The composition of the dry matter 
of the samples of these materials taken is shown in Table 1 of the Appen¬ 
dix. The slight fluctuations observed in the moisture content of the 
feeding stuffs from period to period was insufficient to cause more than 
an entirely insignificant variation in the proportions of dry matter sup¬ 
plied by the several feeding stuffs. As Table 2 of the Appendix shows, 
the protein was ample for a fattening animal of this age according to the 
accepted standards. 
The dates of the several periods and the rations consumed are shown 
in Table I. 
1 The dates given refer in every instance to the 24 hours ending at 6 p. m. on the day named. 
