Purdue University
Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana
A Comparison of Two Levels of Protein Supplement With Self-Fed Supplement For Fattening Cattle
Mimeo A.Ho 172 April 27, 1956
T•W« Perry, CoH. Nickel, Donald Webb, and W.M. Beeson
(Conducted at Lynnwood Farm, Carmel, Indiana)
In a previous trial, yearling steers which received all the ingredients of their fattening ration on a free choice, or self feeding basis, outperformed similar steers which were hand-fed the ingredients of their ration® Even though the self-fed steers consumed more protein supplement than the hand-fed steers, they grew more rapidly, required less feed per unit of gain, suffered less shrink in transit to market, dressed higher, sold higher, and gained more economically than the hand-fed steers. (This material is summarized in Purdue University Mimeo.
A. H. 143.)
The object of the trial reported in this mimeograph was to repeat the work referred to above and also to feed two different levels of protein supplement to two lots of hand-fed cattle.
Experimental Procedure
Sixty yearling Shorthorn steers averaging 65O pounds liveweight at the start were divided into three drylots to be fattened out. The rations fed the three lots of steers were as follows?
The cattle in the self-fed lot (Lot III) were turned into full bunks of ground ear corn, Supplement A, hay and minerals, the first day of the trial and had access to all the ingredients of their ration at all times. The two hand-fed lots (Lots I and II) were fed twice Per day and were brought up to a full-feed of corn gradually.
Re suit s
Hand-fed cattle fed 2.0 pounds of Purdue Supplement A gained just as rapidly and as efficiently as hand-fed cattle which were fed 3.5 of* Supplement A. However, self—fed cattle gained 10 percent more rapidly than either of the hand-fed lots (2.58 lb. vs. 2.35 lh• per day).
Self-fed cattle dressed 2 percent higher at time of slaughter than either of the hand-fed lots.