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The Effect of Winter Rations on Subsequent Pasture Gains of 2-Year-Old Steers¹

Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Conclusions:

1. The steers which made the largest winter gains also made the largest total gains for the year, when fattened on grass the following summer.
   
2. The steers which made only small gains or lost weight during the winter made greater summer gains on pasture than steers which made large winter gains.
   
3. Differences in weight of steers at the end of the winter, due to rations fed, are gradually minimized during the time of summer fattening on grass.
   
4. Since difference in weight due to winter feeding are gradually minimized but not wholly overcome during the summer season of fattening on grass, it is important that cattle to be marketed early should gain considerable more weight during the winter than if they are to be marketed late.
   
5. There is so little. difference between the gains made by the steers in the different lots at the end of the summer that any conclusion as to the best ration must take into consideration the cost of the ration.
   
6. Succulent rations of silage alone, or silage, cottonseed meal and straw or silage and mixed hay, as used in this experiment, are cheaper and produce greater gains for the year than a dry ration of mixed hay and ear corn.
   

¹ This abstract presents briefly the results of experiments with 2-year-old steers. Bulletins reporting the work fully may be obtained later from U. S. Department Bulletins 1024 and 870, respectively.

² Progress of investigation conducted by E. W. Sheets, R. H. Tuckwiller, and A. T. Semple, Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the West Virgina Agricultural Experiment Station cooperating.