Show I Summer Fattened Steers on Grass Interesting Experiments Being Being Be- Be ing Made 1 With Cattle in Blue Grass Region Prepared by the th United States Statu Department ot or Cattle feeders in rill 11 parts ot of the country may derive some benefit from the results ot of experImental work carried carried car car- car car- ried on by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment ot of Agriculture In operation co-operation with the West VirgInia agricultural experiment station especially those who winter steers with the intention ot of financing them on pasture the following following fol- fol lowing summer Because the Appalachian Appalachian Appa- Appa region ot of which the state ot of West VirginIa Is the center cente Is a good bluegrass country admirably adapted to growIng stockers and feeders and to fattening them on pasture most of at atthe the beef produced In this section Is produced on grass grass alone It has been beena a common practice inthis area to winter winter win win- ter steers on dry feed such as hay corn stover and wheat straw and on corr silage to a less JESS extent In such a aay hay ay that they are permitted to lose weight They are then pastured the following summer and sold as stockers stockers stock stock- ers feeders or finished steers Cause for Experiments Because there are some who have maintained that It Is profitable to allow this loss which with older steers usually varies from 25 to to pounds and others that believe that cattle wintered on silage or on a ration ot of thick silage Is a part will not do well wellon on grass the following summer these feeding experiments have been bren under under- taken Three years years' results are now available and have ha been published Ina in ina a new bulletin just Issued by the United States Department of Agriculture ture It Is called Department Bulletin 1251 and discusses the effect ot of winter winter win win- ter rations on pasture gains of at two two- year old also the cost of rations for wintering year two steers From these resu results ts It has been concluded concluded con con- that generally speaking the steers which made larger winter galls gains also made larger total gaIns for the year when fattened on grass the followIng following fol- fol lowIng summer The steers which made only slight gains or whIch were allowed to lose weight during the winter winter win win- ter made greater summer gains on pasture than the steers which made the larger winter gaIns hut but were n t able to overtake them In the final weight Winter Gain Is Best Consequently differences In weight of at steers at the end of the winter due to rations fed are gradually minimized minimized mini mini- during the summer fattening on grass but not wholly overcome Since tills this Is true true It Is that cattle cartle which are re to be marketed early should gain considerably more weight during the winter than It if they are to be marketed marketed mar mar- late I A copy COP of this bulletin may be secured secured se- se cured free as long as the supply lasts by writing to the United States Department Department De- De of at Agriculture Washington D D. D C C. C |