Purdue University	Mimeo A.H. 163
Agricultural Experiment Station	Rev. June 21, 1956
Lafayette, Indiana
SELF-FEEDING VARIOUS RATIOS OF GROUND EAR CORN TO SUPPLEMENT A FOR FATTENING CATTLE
T. W. Perry, M. T. Mohler and W. M. Beeson
Department of Animal Husbandry
The results of two feeding trials have shown that fattening cattle can be fed successfully on a free-choice, cafeteria style basis (A.H. Mimeos, 143 and 172). In fact, cattle fed in this manner gained more rapidly than similar cattle that were handfed. However, cattle self-fed on a free choice basis consumed more protein supplement than is normally required for fattening cattle. Since very little research has been conducted to determine what is the optimum amount of protein supplement a fattening steer should consume when mixed with ground ear corn, an experiment was designed to study the effect of self-feeding various ratios of ground ear corn to Purdue Cattle Supplement A.
Experimental Procedure
One-hundred-sixty yearling Hereford steers which were raised in Wyoming were purchased at an average price of $22 per hundredweight delivered to Lafayette, Indiana. Sixty of these steers were divided into 5 lots of 12 steers each with an average beginning weight of 634 pounds.
Prior to the start of the experiment the cattle had received no grain or protein supplement, but had been given hay and minerals. The first day of the experiment the cattle were turned into their respective lots in which their troughs were filled with a mixture of ground ear corn and Purdue Supplement A in the ratios indicated below.
A free-choice mineral mixture of 2 parts steamed bonemeal to 1 part salt fortified with cobalt sulphate plus loose salt in another box was available at all times. During the first 28 days, mixed hay was available in all lots. However, approximately 2 pounds of hay Per steer daily was all that was consumed during this period, so the feeding of hay was discontinued at the start of the second 28 day Period.