The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-05-02
IOWA TEST BEEF SOLD
Experiment Station at Ames Markets Fifty Head Fed
Various Rations.

Cured on those cattle fed both silage
and clover.
Glover is clearly outclassed in the
trials reported" continued the Iowa In.
structor, The more silage in the IA,
ton the greater the profits, providing
silage is not fed too heavily after
cattle are well on, feed. The state
ment was made by the Iowa people
last year that in their opinion silage
| was pre-eminently adapted to a short
feed. The cattle in the trails at the
end OF three months feeding corrobor-
ated this declaration. They also
thought II advisable to decrease the
silage at the finish rof the fattening
period and push on concentrates at
this time. The results from lot s. feu
in this manner, show surprisingly the
largest profit per steer of all lots, or
a handsome net profit of $23.42 to the
steer, and this in spite of the heavy
increase in the price OF corn the last
two months, costing, respectively. 81
and 65 cents as compared to 50, 81
and SIS cents the first three months.
| "On stationary corn market lot .,
heavy silage and light corn at begin.
ming, with light silage and heavy corn
at the finish. would have taken an
even greater lead
The silage clover ration again
proves good one" said Mr.. Evvard.
This ration can also be handled In
practically the same way as lot in
that the clover can he kept up well
at finish and silage decreased" Upon
questioning, Mr.. Evvard thought this
entirely feasible and practical In that
the clover at this time would be of
added value in putting on the bloom. F."
Too much watery, bulky silage at the
end of the finishing period Is not de
| sirable. The steer has great liking
| for silage because of its extreme pal.
atablity, and IL allowed all he will eat
when he gets heavy and fat will con.
sumo too much for his own and the
feeders good, leaving too little room
for concentrated feed, such as corn
and cotton seed meal, at this time.
| To Offset this counteracting ten.
dency the silage had best be limited
somewhat toward the close of the fat.
tening game and the concentrate con
sumption encouraged.
Go On Feed Quickly.
II Is entirely feasible and withal
practical, to put on a fun feed of sill.
age in two to ten days. and allow same
to a maximum early in the period,
holding back somewhat on corn to in.
duce heavy roughage consumption.
This is profitable under average con.
ditions and especially when grain Is
very high in price. The conditions
are to be reversed after a couple or
three months OF a five or six months
feed.
Mr. Evvard says these cattle were
fed on timothy hay last five feeds and
! silage was continued In the ration
though lightly, at finish. until the feed
the evening before shipment, when IL
was not given. Oats were added as
half OF the grain ration Of shelled corn
and cOttonseed meal. The Iowa sta.
ton scales are strictly accurate, hay
ing been tested by an expert only {
short while before final weighinga
and found to be accurate. Repeating
the light shrinkage for two years
should lead one to have faith in the
way these cattle were handled prior
to shipping. The car ricks were filled
on loading.
Messrs. Kennedy and Evvard will
publish their results this coming fab
and will put in sheep instead Of cattle
this coming winter for experimental
work.