Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 132]

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132

Average daily gains for 90 days: Nos. 1 and 2, 223 lbs. ; Nos. 3 and 4, 97 lbs. : No. 5, 72 lbs.; Nos. 6 and 7, 158 lbs. 7 steers in the barn averaged 145 lbs. daily. 7 " yard •' 236 " 14 steers averaged 190 " At the commencement, seven steers put in the barn averaged, 1,247 lbs ; seven steers in the yard averaged, 1,140 lbs. The cattle were of the common stock of the country, all showing more or less improved breeding. From one to seven, inclusive, were fed in the barn in stalls, and fastened by chains about the neck. The stalls were cleaned once a day and kept littered. The grain was weighed into separate bins, two animals being fed from each bin, except in the case of No. 6—fed alone. After the second week ail had what they would eat; no steer was cloyed or ate enough to cause sickness. Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 had each, with the feed of grain, 5 lbs. of cJover hay (10 lbs. daily) of the best quality. Nos. 5, 6 and 7 had, morning and evening, a feed of grain mixed with 2% lbs. cut rye straw, wet, (5 lbs. daily) and 5 lbs. clover hay at noon. They were not removed from the stalls during the time of feeding. Water was offered twice a day; they usually drank freely in the morning, and lightly or not at all in the evening. Nos. 8 to 14 were fed in the yard, a sheltered place by the barn, and had, morning and evening, a small shock of corn. After the first week, 35 pounds ear corn was added, fed at noon. After the second week this was increased to 70 pounds. By husking and averaging several shocks, it was thought that the average feed amounted to 24 pounds daily ; corn of medium quality, for the season; compared with other years, it would be called small, though ripe. Of large and hard corn, cattle would not eat this amount. As has been seen, the cattle in the barn, when put up, averaged 107 pounds more than those in tke yard. This was accidental, and unfortunate. Some difficulty was experienced in getting them in the barn, as they were wild. In driving the lot to the door, the heavier ones went in first. The cattle were not bought with a view to make the experiment, and were not as even a lot • as could be desired. In this respect they were inferior to those fed the two preceding winters. Again, as compared with the former experiments, they were thinner in flesh, on account of the drought, and consequent shortness of pasture, and, for this reason, gave better gains. In an experiment like this there will always be found much that must be explained by the experimenter. By closely studying this experiment, as well as the two former ones made on the farm, I will venture a few observations. To explain the difference in the gains of Nos. 1 and 2,1 would say that No. 1 was the thinnest in flesh of any in the barn ; Nos. 2 and 3 were the fattest. These (2 and 3) were wintered on the farm; the rest were bought the last of July, '74. These had better kept, and may have been some months older, both of which would tend to make the gains less. No. 4 should have made a better gain. About the middle of the feeding this one bloated badly for tour different times during a period of two weeks, before it was discovered that the cause was lying against the chain that fastened him. It is thought that fifty or more pounds was lost by this. No. 5 was a smooth fine steer that was in good fix when first put up and fat when he came out, but did not grow at all. I t will be observed that the large steer, No. 6, fed with No. 7, gained 65 pounds less : they resembled each other in every particular except size, and were probably closely related to each other. Those out of doors need no explanation. As to general observations, I may be allowed to make the following: A poor steer (in flesh) will gain more than a fat one; a young steer more than an older one, and this will hold good from birth to four years of age. Growth and fat must be made at the same time. A wild steer will do no good, especially in the barn. Cattle should be removed from the stalls for exercise and water. As to methods of feeding and feed, I am satisfied that in this climate, and with the cattle we buy here—never having been handled—that the best and cheapest mode of feeding is to feed shock corn, in a sheltered yard. Three things are essential: Good cattle to feed, plenty of food and water, and a place to lie down, out of wind and snow; neglect either of these, and the result will not be satisfactory. Since writing the preceding, another experiment has been completed, as follows: Two grade steers, raised on the farm, and on the same cow till weaned at six months of age, were sixteen months old December 1, 1874. They had often been weighed, giving always about the same increase or growth, and had always been led alike. The following table will show weights and gains: Weight Dec. 1. Weight Feb. 1. Weight April 1. Total Gain. Gain "per day.

No. l No. 2

:

830 860

970 970

1: 1,090 1,070

260 210

2.16 1.75

No. 1 was fed daily 12 pounds corn in the ear. No. 2 was fed daily 12 pounds wheat bran. Both had for roughness good wheat straw. They were fed in stalls to which they were accustomed, and removed daily for water. There is no need of explanation as between the different kinds of feed; this is about what might have been expected. Something may be learned by comparing No. 1 with the 14 in the former experiment, as regards breeding first; age second; and previous handling third. He was sired by the short-horn bull, Baron Louaufe, and from a grade cow, thus having an advantage of better breeding than the others ; was only half the age, and was used to being handled. On the other hand, the grain was only half that fed the others, and the roughness half in value. By comparison, we have the following : This steer gained, per day, 2.16 lbs; seven steers fed in barn, gained, per day, 1.45 lbs. Seven steers fed in yard, gained, per day, 2.36 lbs. Fourteen steers gained, per day, 1.90 lbs.