June 2 i, 1924 Effect of Winter Rations on Pasture Gains of Steers 1217 
Weights were taken once every 28 days during the first summer. Afterwards 
the practice was discontinued on account of the loss incident to driving such heavy 
steers the long distance from the pastures to the scales. During the second 
summer they were weighed only on the sixty-second day and during the third 
summer only on the forty-fourth day. Three consecutive daily weights were 
not taken at the end of the grazing season, on account of the incident loss in 
weight. Each year the steers were marketed in Jersey City at the end of the 
summer grazing period. 
QUANTITY OF FEED CONSUMED 
Table II shows the total quantities of different feeds eaten by the various lots 
and the average daily ration per steer in each lot during each of the three winters. 
All lots except Lot No. 2 were fed to make a small gain in weight. Lot No. 1 
failed to gain in weight in the winter of 1921-22 on account of the poor quality 
of the mixed hay. They would not eat enough of it to maintain their weight. 
It was planned to feed Lot No. 2 so that it would lose slightly in weight. This 
object was not attained the first year. The quantities of feed consumed daily 
were practically the same throughout the winter periods. Lot No. 3 was given 
practically as much silage as the steers would clean up. 
Table II .—Average total and daily rations per steer during winters 
Winter feed 
Total feed per steer 
Aver¬ 
Daily feed per steer 
Aver¬ 
1919-20 
1920-21 
1921-22 
age 
1919-20 
1920-21 
1921-22 
age 
Lot 1: 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Pounds 
Mixed hay____ 
2,540 
2,403 
1,860 
2,268 
20.0 
19.9 
15.0 
18.3 
Ear corn... 
254 
242 
245 
247 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
Lot 2: Corn silage___ 
3,810 
3,490 
3,487 
3,588 
30.0 
28.8 
28.1 
28.9 
Lot 3: Corn silage._..... 
5,080 
4,840 
4,478 
4,799 
40.0 
40.0 
36.1 
38.7 
Lot 4: 
Corn silage.__. 
3,810 
3,490 
3,683 
3,661 
30.0 
28.8 
29.7 
29.5 
Cottonseed meal... 
190 
181 
184 
185 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
Lot 5: 
Corn silage___ 
3,125 
3,025 
3,069 
3,076 
25.0 
25.0 
24.7 
24.8 
Wheat straw_ 
734 
698 
736 
725 
5.8 
5.8 
5.9 
5.8 
Cottonseed meal___ 
127 
121 
123 
124 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
Lot 6: 
Corn silage___ 
3,125 
3,025 
3,069 
3,073 
25.0 
25.0 
24.7 
24.8 
Mixed hay.... 
1,016 
968 
749 
911 
8.0 
8.0 
6.0 
7.3 
As Table III shows, there was considerable variation in the nutritive ratio 
of the rations as fed as well as in the quantities of dry matter and digestible 
nutrients in them. The rations containing hay and straw were especially high 
in dry matter. The rations of silage alone were lowest in digestible protein, 
while that containing 1.5 pounds of cottonseed meal was considerably the highest. 
The rations containing cottonseed meal had nutritive ratios considerably narrower 
than the others. 
