SUGAR BEETS FOR FATTENING STEERS 
i3 
PART II. 
SUGAR BEETS FOR FATTENING STEERS. 
The steers used in the experiment, described in Part I, were fed 
during each winter with a view to finding the value of sugar beets 
in replacing part of the corn used with the customary corn and al¬ 
falfa ration in Colorado. European and Canadian feeders regard roots 
highly as an aid in finishing cattle, but in America it has been dif¬ 
ficult to popularize their use. Many inquiries have come to this 
Station, however, as to the value of sugar beets for stock feed, and 
in conversation with feeders, I find that many are firmly convinced 
that sugar beets possess a feeding value of from $5.00 to $10.00 per 
ton. Results of experiments conducted in other states indicate a 
much lower value th?n this for feeding, and the following experi¬ 
ments were conducted with a view of ascertaining the true value 
of sugar beets for feeding under Colorado conditions. The results 
obtained throw considerable light upon this question. 
EXPERIMENT 1 
In this trial of 16 weeks, Lot 1 was fed six pounds of corn and 
30 pounds of sugar beets per head each day, while Lot 2 was fed 12 
pounds of corn. This meant replacing half the corn with sugar beets 
in the proportion of 5 pounds of sugar beets to one pound of corn. 
The steers were yearlings. 
FEED, GAIN, AND COST OF GAIN 
Eot 
No. 
in 
Total 
Gain 
in 
Weight 
Total Feed Pounds 
Average 
Gain Per 
Pounds Feed 
Required For 
100 lbs. Gain 
Cost of 
Feed 100 
Lot 
Corn 
Sugar 
Beets 
Alfalfa 
Hay 
Head 
Coin 
Sugar 
Beets 
Alfalfa 
Hay 
lbs. Gain 
..... 
* 
4714 
9245 
52234 
30194 
239 
196 
1108 
641 
$6.33 
2. . . . 
** 
4256 
18851 
30640 
216 
443 
720 
6.23 
* At first 18 head, after 3rd week, 20 nead. 
** At first 17 head, after 3rd week, 20 head 
Note—Corn at $1.00 per cwt., Beets at $5.00 per ton, Alfalfa Hay at $5.00 per ton. 
The steers fed the sugar beets made somewhat better gains than 
the others, averaging 23 pounds heavier at the close. By inspection 
of the columns showing feed required for 100 pounds gain, we find 
that 1108 pounds of sugar beets replaced 247 pounds of corn and 79 
pounds of alfalfa hay; or 4.5 pounds of sugar beets replaced 1 pound 
of corn and .32 pounds of hay in the production of 100 pounds gain 
in live weight. 
Figuring corn at 1 cent per pound, sugar beets at $5.00 per ton, 
and hay at $5.00 per ton, the sugar beet ration cost $6.33 for every 
hundred pounds gain produced, while the corn ration cost $6.23. 
These results indicate that if corn costs more, or sugar beets less 
than these prices, it will pay to substitute sugar beets for half of 
the corn ration. 
