Gunnison news-champion., 1921-09-09
High Altitude Steer
Feeding Experiments
SAN LUIS VALLEY AND NORTH
PARK WILL TRY FINISHING
BEEF
Western Farm Life:-

Whether steers can be finished
economically in the high altitude re-
gious is the point TO be established
by tests now m progress under super
vision Of the Animal Husbandry de-
partment Of the Colorado Agricultural
College IN the San Luis Valley C7,5OO
feetD. and in North Park 5000 feet,)
The question Of feed l. paramount in
both sections. Due 10 a short grow
ing season il has been difficult TO pro-
yid" a suitable range Of home grown
feeds for fattsniuR beef. This is es-
pecially true in North Park, where
root crops offer practically the only
chance for succulcuoe. In the San
Luis valley silage from a combination
Of oats and field peas is practical, but
the economy Of this Is doubtful be
cause Of the limited tonnage produced
per acre.
Giant sunhowcrs seem to offer the
best chance for paying silage crop
that will make beef production easy
and profitable in the San Luis valley.
North Park relies on root crops for
succulence. Mangels have been select
ed for this seasons experiment.
North Park is famous for its nutritive
hay and grass-fed cattle from that
section have, on more than one occa-
sion. taken first premium in their class
at the International Livestock show in
Chicago
Under the plan Of the test worked
out by the Animal Husbandry dc
partrcnt at the college, twenty head
of steers are 10 be put on feed this
fall NJ the close Of the pasture season.
They will be divided INTO four lots,
one lot 20 be fed straight native hay;
the second, native hay, mangels and
cottauseed cake as concentrate; the
third. silage made from oats, field
peas, native hay and eottonseed cake;
the fourth. suHfuwcr Silage, native
hay and cottonseed cake.
In the San Luis valley the eNpcri-
mcnts are 70 be conducted on the
ranch Of l.. II. Hall in Saguache coun-
ty. Tests have been made for several
seasons with giant sunfiowcrs under
the direction Of County Agent VIM o.
Saudcr. T. has been shown that this
crop will thrive, that il will withstand
. occasional summer frosts and reach
stage NJ maturity ensunng good
Cua'itv Of silage. Oats and peas as
a silagc and hay combinations have
been grown for years in the San Luis
. s1AltN- tltNf -F@'.ilA0 ~ ~ AAR NAN-
ton about the available feeds but
methods of finishing beef have varied.
Some are marketing cattle finished on
native hay alone; some add alfalfa:
some use alfalfa alone after the cat
tie come Oft the range.
I The present test will demonstrate
( the economy Of several methods. Forty
head Of Shorthorn steers viii be used
divided into four pens as follows: lot
( /, native hay alone; lot 2. alfalfa and
native hay; lot 3, alfalfa hay alone;
I lot {. sunflower silagc ard alfalfa hay.
( Feeders Day" at Fort Collins has
I become a notable event for the farm
ers in the irrigated sections who have
been watching the experiments OF
the Animal Husbandry department for
some years. Each season has devel-
nped some new point. The tests at
Fort Collins are limited to the feeds
available in the highly developed beet
growing districts. However, nothing
has been done to interest the ranch
man who produce their own stock on
the range and who might finish them
out properly If he had the proper
feeds.
When the steers are ready for the
market. Feeders Day will be arranged
by the Extension Department and
farmers will gather at the points
where these cattle have been fed, and
get full reports on the experiments,
while being shown the steers. The
cattle are to be followed thru to the
coolers at Denver and reports are to
be published giving full details from
the time they entered the feed lot to
the dressing out of the carcasses at
the packing house