The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-04-01
New Beef-MzISins Experiment. in mn


nois-
We have received the following
communication from Prof. H ". Mum
ford Of the Illinois experiment sta
ton
One OF the greatest questions be
fore the cattle feeders q me corn
belt is. How can the greatest profit
be secured from converting our most
available foOdstuns, corn and clover
hay, into meat2 It was 70 answer this
question that the experiment in prog
ress was undertaken This inTestiga-
ton involves mainly a study Of meth
DDS Of preparation OF corn and clover
hay for the production OF beef and in
eidentally OF pork, as affecting cost Of
production. relative rapidity Of finish
and quality OF the finished product
The following ratiOns are being fed
to ten different lots Of steers:
Lot 1-Silage. corn meal, gluten
meal and clover hay.
Lot Ear corn, gluten meal ana
clover hay.
Lot ear corn and clover hay.
Lot Com meal, gluten meal and
clover hay.
Lot Com meal. gluten meal, clo-
yer hay-hay chaRed and mingled
with the grain.
Lot Corn and cob meal, gluten
meal, clover hay.
Lot Com and cob meal. gluten
meal and clover hay-hay chaIed and
mingled with grain.
Of & CHI - - - - - 81
corn etc. according to common
practices), and clover hay.
Lot 9-SheIled corn, gluten meal
and clover hay (fed in ordinary dirt
or mud lot).
Lot 10-ShelIed corn. gluten meal
and clover hay Cfed in paved lot in
comparison with lot @.
A sufficient number Of pigs to pre-
vent waste follow each lot The
records OF this experiment should
show which Of the methods:
l. Is the most efficient for beef
production.
2. Produces the maximum amount
Of pork.
3. Is the most efficient for meat pro
duction or beet and pork production
combined.
4. Involves least labor.
8 Produces the most meat for a
given unit Of labor.
8. Returns the greatest profit &c
the feeder after considering efficiency
Of feed and labor involved.
One hundred tnirty tvo-year-old
steers Of the choice grade are being
used in this experiment. They were
purchased in The Chicago market dur
ing the months Of October and
November at an average cost Of S4.25
per cwt- The experiment began Nov
%, 1903, and viii be completed NAY
q, 1904, or in a six months feedins
period.
II viii be remembered that the
steers fed last winter in the marke,
grade experiment AT the Illinois sta
ton were fed on chahed or cut hay
mingled with the grain fed. The re
suits following this system Of feedins
were highly satisfactory, but no at
tempt was made nor was it possible
TO compare from an economic stand.
point this system Of feeding with the
ordinary method where hay is fed
loose and uncut and unmingled with
the grain From the above outline
1t viii be noticed that BY a compari
son OF the records Of feeding lots 4
and 5, and again OF and z, we shall
be able to determine which system
viii return to the feeder the greatest
net profit after taking into considera.
ton the relative efficiency Of the IA
tons and the cost OF preparing and
feeding same.
Last season an experiment was con
Quoted at this station 70 determine
the advisability Of paving feed lots
for fattening cattle, which resulted
very much in favor Of adopting the
practice This experiment is being
duplicated this winter with lots 9
and 10.