The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-26
Government Makes a New Ex-
pertinent at Fort Hays
To Demonstrate the Ability of
Various Ages Of Stock
TO GROW INTO BEEF
On a Ration of Corn and Cob
Meal, Kafir and Alfalfa.
There Was Little Difference
Between 2 and 3-Year.Olds.

Fort Hays, March 26.-Last sum-
mer the state experiment station
authorities outlined a new policy in
experiments with cattle at the Fort
Hays station, the plans for which re-
Quired graded stock of definite age
and breed. 1t was therefore deter
mined to dispose of the herd of 100
cattle, grown from the few head of
COWS purchased in 1903, and all but
40 head were sold to local buyers in
early fall. The forty head retained
were cows and heifers, of the short
horn and hereford breeds, the pur-
pose of their retention being to con-
duct a feeding experiment to demon
strate the comparative ability of cat
tie of various ages to grow into beef,
aided by a ration composed of corn
and cob meal, Kafir corn meal, alfalfa
and Kafir slower. so arranged that the
ration be fed as nearly balanced" as
was possible.
In the bunch, there were 10 cows.
to 9 years old; 10 three-year-old
heifers, 10 two-year old heifers and
10 coming yearlings, also heifers.
The cattle of same age were placed
in a lot to themselves, thus making
up four lots of ten head each. Each
lot received the same ration, only
the quantity varying according to
feeding ability of the several lots.
The feed was all raised on the sta
ton farm. Corn was ground with the
cob. Kafir corn grain ground, alfalfa
fed from baled stock and the Kafir-
slower in bundles from the $50 acre
field of this crop grown in 1907
Feeding commenced November IL,
at which date the cattle were sepa
rately weighed and these individual
weights recorded. Weights were like
wise taken each four weeks, so that
the gains could be noted
First rations fed contained only
small quantities of grain and greater
amounts of roughage, which differ
ence was gradually reversed so that
toward the close of the experiment
the stock was receiving heavier grain
rations and little less roughage
than at the beginning. The feeding
continued for So days, after which
period the stock was shipped to Kan
sas City and marketed. Here follows
some of the results:
When put in the feed lot, the ten
cows weighed 1O.4S3 pounds. In the
50 days, each COW gained an average
of 2.1S pounds daily, or the entire lot
gained 1857 pounds for the period
They brought s4.15 on the market.
The ten three-year-oIds averaged
$50 pounds each when feeding be-
gan and 1852 pounds each when it
closed; making an average daily gain
of 2-7S pounds each. or total of
2.127 pounds for the lot. These
brought the highest price of the four
lots. s4.90.
The two-year-old heifers averaged
6S7 pounds al the beginning of the
period, and $40 pounds when feeding
concluded. Each heifer gained an
average of PA pounds daily. and the
entire lot was 1924 pounds heavier
than at the commencement of the
feeding This bunch brought s4s5.
The calves, or baby beef" weighed
421 pounds each when put into the
feed lot. and SIS pounds each when
sold. making daily average gain of 1.S0
pounds each, and 1.535 pounds for the
lot. Brought $3.50 on market.
Swift & Co. butchered the stock
making separate test of each lot Their
head beef man reported the cows to
dress out very good quality for their
kind; the three-year-olds to be choice
beef; the two-year-o also choice ard
appearing better when dressed than
any of the other lots; while the calves
were choice stock for their weights.
From the foregoing, it will be noted
that the three-year-old heifers made
best gains, and received highest price:
while the two-year-olds gained nearly
as much as the cows, with the added
advantage of selling for more money
per pound. Inc cattle consumed 321
bushels of corn. 434 bushels of kafir
corn, IL tons of alfalfa and 9N tons
of kafir slower. The three-year-olds
produced more been than did the COWS.
and on considerably less grain, and the
two-year- olds made a better gain than
the cows proportionate to the quantity
of grain consumed. AS between the
three-year- olds and the two-year-olds.
there seems very little difference. The
three's consumed 1880 pounds more
grain, and made 300 pounds more beef
than did the two's, but this may be
readily accounted for by difference in
age and natural food requirements
The calves made a good return for
their class.
Such work as this demonstrates the
practicability OF beef growing and feed
ing at home for the western farmer;
and that crops suitable for beef ra-
tons can be grown with reasonable
certainty in many localities of that
part of the state. The benefit to the
farmer, and the farm, accruing from
the handling of live stock, has beer
established beyond the shadow of q
doubt.