1216 
Journal of Agricultural Research v 0 i. xxvm, No 1 ? 
Table I .—Outline of the three years' work 
Lot 
No. 
Season 
Steers in 
lot® 
Winter periods b 
Summer 
periods 
on 
pasture* 
Duration 
Feed 
Days 
Days 
1919-20 
10 
127 
136 
1 
1920-21 
10 
121 
[•Mixed hay and ear corn.___ 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
1919-20 
9 
127 
136 
2 
1920-21 
10 
121 
Corn silage . .- _ 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
1919-20 
10 
127 
136 
3_ 
1920-21 
10 
121 
do........ 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
1919-20 
10 
127 
136 
4 _ 
1920-21 
10 
121 
[Corn silage and cottonseed meal.. 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
1919-20 
10 
127 
■Corn silage, cottonseed meal, and wheat straw... 
136 
5-_ . 
1920-21 
8 
121 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
1919-20 
10 
127 
136 
6_ 
1920-21 
10 
121 
■Corn silage and mixed hay..... 
128 
1921-22 
10 
124 
141 
• Owing to accidents 1 steer died in Lot 2 in the summer of 1919-20 and 2 steers died in Lot 5 in the winter 
•of 1920-21; averages for Lot 2 are based on 29 steers and for Lot 5 on 28 steers in subsequent tables. 
* 1919-20, Dec. 23 to Apr. 27, inclusive; 1920-21, Dec. 28 to Apr. 27, inclusive; 1921-22, Dec. 23 to Apr. 25, 
inclusive. The average length of period is 124 days. 
«1919-20, Apr. 28 to Sept. 10, inclusive; 1920-21, Apr. 28 to Sept. 2, inclusive; 1921-22, Apr. 26 to Sept. 
13, inclusive. The average length of period is 135 days. 
KINDS OF STEERS USED 
The steers used were long 2-year-old grade Shorthorn, Hereford, and Aberdeen 
Angus, raised in southern West Virginia. They were good feeder steers, quite 
uniform in quality and condition. They ranged in weight from 800 to 1,200 
pounds and averaged 964 pounds at the beginning of the winter periods. 
METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING THE STEERS 
In the fall before starting the steers on winter feed they were divided into lots 
of 10 each. In making this division, care was taken to have the lots as nearly 
uniform as possible in quality, breeding, size, and condition. The different lots 
were given the same amount of space in an open barn and were kept under cover 
all winter. Water was supplied in the stalls at all times and salt was constantly 
available. The steers were fed twice a day. 
The feed, both concentrates and roughage, was carefully weighed at each feed¬ 
ing. All the feeds used were of good quality. There was practically no waste. 
The steers were weighed for three consecutive days at the beginning and at the 
end of the winter period. They were also weighed once every 28 days. All 
weighings were made in the morning after feeding. Neck straps and disks or ear 
tags with numbers on them were used, so that ready identification of each indi¬ 
vidual could be made and records accurately kept. 
In the spring of each year, as soon as the grass was good enough, which was 
usually about April 25, the steers from all the lots were turned into a rather hilly 
pasture of about 300 acres with no additional feed. A good growth of blue grass 
with white clover is found on all parts of the pasture. A small stream, which 
flows through the pasture, provides an abundance of fresh w^ter throughout the 
summer. The soil is of limestone formation. Under normal climatic conditions 
there is sufficient rainfall to keep the grass growing throughout the season 
