Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-26
CATTLE FEEDING TEST
University of Illinois Expert
ment Station Investigates
Methods of Preparing Food
USE TEN VARIETIES OF RATIoNs
ACCESSIBILITY of Paving Feed Lots for
Fattenine Cattle, One Feature of
Test Other Facts Being Sought
Cattle Will be Marketed in Chicago
What Tests Will Show.

! Urbana, ILL.,. May 26-The Illinois ex-
! pertinent station of the University OF
Illinois, is just now bringing to close
another important cattle feeding ex-
pertinent. The investigation involves
mainly a study of methods of prepare
| ton of corn and clover hay for the pro-
duction of beef and incidentally 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 l. 10 steers.-Silage, corn meal,
| oil meal and clover hay.
Lot 2. Is steers-Ear corn, Oil meal
and clover hay.
Lot 3, Is steers-Ear corn and clover
hay.
Lot A, Is steers-Corn meal, oil meal
and clover hay.
Lot 5, Is steers.-Corn meal, oil meal,
clover hay; hay chaffed and mingled
with the grain.
Lot 6, Is steers-Corn and cob meal,
oil meal and clover hay.
Lot Z, 10 steers--Corn and cob meal,
oil meal, and clover hay: hay chaffed
and mingled with grain.
Lot s, 10 steers-Shock corn ear
corn, shelled corn etc, according TO
common practce), and clover hay, oil
meal being fed during the latter part
of feeding period.
Lot 8, 10 steers-Shelled corn, oil
meal and clover hay (fed in ordinary
dirt or mud loD.
Lot 10. 10 steers-Shelled corn, oil
meal and clover hay tfed in paved lot
in comparison with lot 81.
A sufficient number of pigs to pre-
vent waste follow each lot. AT present
the number for each lot is as follows:
Lot /, pig; lot .. s.; lot 5, s; lot 4, 4;
lot 5, 4: lot 6, A lot Z, 4 lot 8, 6;
lot 9, Z: lot TO- Z.
What the Tests Will Show.
The records of this experiment
should show which of the methods:
/. The most Efficient for beef pro-
duction.
2. Produces the maximum amount
of pork.
s. Is the most efficient for meat pro-
duction, or beef and pork production
combined.
4. Involves least labor.
3. Produces the most meat for
given unit of labor.
g. Returns the greatest profit to the
feeder after considering efficiency OF
feed and labor involved.
one hundred and thirty two-year-o
steers of the choice grade are being
,,Sad IN this eyperiment.
Last season an experiment was con-
Quoted at this station to determine the
advisability of paving feed lots for fat
tening cattle. which resulted in favor
of adopting the practice. This expert
ment was duplicated this winter with
lots 9 and 10.
Other Facts Being Sought.
It is a matter which has never been
definitely determined experimentally as
to whether everything considered.
when an abundance of highly nitro
genous roughage. such as clover or al
faIfa, is available for feeding it is adj
visable to feed any heterogeneous con-
centrate such as gluten or oil meal. as
supplement to corn for fattening
steers. BY further reference to the
outline of the experimental work in
progress this winter it will be seen that
a comparison of the results in the feed
ing of lots 9 and should throw some
light on this important question.
The effect of corn silage in the ration
of beef cattle is being investigated with
lot 1.
The cattle will be open to future in
spection at the Urbana experiment sta
ton on Saturday, May IS, and will be
marketed In Chicago June 1 or 2.