Purdue University	Mimeo A„ H. 206
Agricultural Experiment Station	April 26, 1957
Lafayette, Indiana
Salt as a Control of the Intake of Free Choice Protein Supplement for Self-Fed Fattening Beef Cattle
T. W. Perry, W. M. Beeson, Donald Webb and C. H. Nickel (Conducted at Lynnwood Farm, Carmel, Indiana)
Purdue research has shown that cattle can be fed a high concentrate type of fattening ration on a free choice basis, cafeteria-style, successfully. In this method of feeding, the cattle have free access to filled bunks of ground ear corn and of protein supplement from the first day they enter the feedlot. Hay may be provided in,a rack throughout the entire feeding period, or the length of the hay-feeding period may be shortened to the first 28 days the cattle are in the feedlot. Under this method of feeding, cattle gain rapidly and efficiently, without any tendency toward looseness or scouring. However, if the occasion arises when the corn is not of top quality, the cattle tend to overeat on the supplement, causing the cost of gain to rise.
More recent Purdue research has shown that the ground ear corn and the protein supplement can be mixed together in a definite ratio and fed as a complete mixed ration. Our findings have indicated the optimum ratio for fattening cattle is approximately 8 parts ground ear corn to 1 part Purdue Cattle Supplement A. However, this method of feeding involves running tremendous amounts of ground ear corn through some type of mixing mechanism.
The objectives of the trial reported in this paper.were, (1) to compare three different methods of self-feeding fattening cattle, and (2) to compare the same method of self-feeding under both drylot and pasture conditions.
Experimental Procedure
Eighty yearling Shorthorn steers, averaging 665 pounds liveweight, were divided into 4 lots of 20 animals per lot. These steers were animals that had been used the previous winter in a study of silage wintering rations.
The following treatments were administered:
Lot I	Self-fed, free choice, ground ear corn, Supplement A, hay and
minerals, in drylot.
Lot II	Same as Lot I except that the consumption of Supplement A was re-
gulated to slightly over 2 pounds per head daily by the incorporation of salt, in drylot.
Lot III Self-fed a mixture of 8 parts ground ear corn to 1 part Supplement A, plus free choice hay and minerals, in drylot.
Lot IV	Same as Lot III except that the cattle were fed their ration on a
mixed grass and legume pasture, and also, there was no hay offered.