OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Transcription

1 THESIS on FITTING SHORTHORN CALVES FOR THE SALE RING Submitted to the OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In The School of Agriculture By LEONARD JOHN ALLEN 1915

2 FITTING SHORTHORN CALVES FOR THE SALE RING OBJECT:- The object of this experiment was to obtain comparative data on the amounts of feed consumed and gain in weights, of pure bred Shorthorn calves on full feed and fed the same rations, while being fitted for sale. Also to determine the advisability of maintaining a nurse low for a calf. PLANS:- The plans were to fit the calves for the spring sale of Shorthorn Cattle in Portland, Oregon, March 30, and to obtain the data while this was being done. Pour-lulls were started in the experiment October 17, three belonging to Mr. John Wyatt and one to the College. All were gradually put on fall feed and one was furnished with a nurse cow. On December 2, five heifers and three bulb, eight head in all, were secured from Mr. Dick Kiger and also put on full feed. Later the three bulls were placed in the same pen with the four previously started, and at the same time three heifers, two Shorthorns and one Herefore belonging to the College, were added to the pen of heifers. This made two pens, one consisting of seven bulls and one of eight heifers. With the exception of three heifers belonging to the College, all were fitted for the sale. Thins three were fed equal and constant amounts of feed throughout the test, it being the plan to keep them growing rapidly but not fatten them. SHELTER, YARDAGE and WATER SUPPLY:- Before the Kiger calves were entered into the experiment, the four bulls were given a 20 by 20 foot pen inside the barn with a door opening to a small, concrete floored, exercise pen outside, in which a concrete watering trough was located. Later the two pens were placed next to the open side of the barn, facing east. They

3 were 30 feet by 40 feet in size with a constant supply Of fresh water furnished from a supply tank. Stanchions were arranged along one side of the pens for use at feeding time. The pens were kept well bedded at all times. WEIGHTS:- Weights were taken every week and always during the middle of the day, so tbe calves would have about the same fill. The initial weights were obtained by weighing every day the first week. Scales were so arranged that the calves could be driven on thru a narrow chute, causing them little excitement. FEED- The feed used varied but little during the entire test. The grain was mixed and fed in the following proportions. Ground barley nine parts, ground oats nine parts bran, 4.5 parts and oil meal two parts by weight. After February 13 the mixture was changed to ground barley four parts, ground oats 2 parts, bran 2 parts and oil meal 1 part by weight. Oats and vetch, and clover hay was fed at different periods. Silage was also fed throughout the experiment. METHOD OF FEEDING:- The calves were fed twice each day in stanchions at regular hours, 5:30 o'clock a.m., abd 5:00 o'clock p.m., each operation requiring about one hour. In a very short time each animal learned its respective place. They were weaned just before the test was started so it was necessary to give them very small feeds of grain and silage at first, and gradually increase the amount. It required about four weeks to get the calves on full feed so that all the grain could be fed that they would readily clean up, and it was necessary to keep close watch of each individual to prevent over feeding. The manger was made with a tight floor raised about six inches, and it was swept clean before each feeding. A portion of the bulls were fed in boxes placed on the

4 -3- floor of the manger and this proved to be a better method than feeding on the floor itself. Grain was fed first, then silage and after it was cleaned up the calves turned loose and fed hay. The one furhidhed with a nurse cow was permitted to suck each morning and evening immediately after eating grain. RECORDS:- The calves were numbered from 1 to 15 inclusive and the records kept by numbers. Records were started after the calves had been on feed one week, and were kept of the individual daily feeds of grain and cilage. It was not possible to keep a record of the amount of hay consumed by each individual as this would necessitate keeping them in the stanchions too much of the time. The amount of hay remaining in the manger was weighed and recorded each time before feeding the determine the amount consumed. This amount was divided equally among the number of animals in the pen, with the exception of the three heifers belonging to the College, not on full feed. It was estimated that these would eat about 10 pounds each, per day, and the remaining quantity corresponded very closely to that consumed by the calves in the other pen, all of which were on full feed. QUALITY OF FEEDIA The barley and oats were of superior quality and were ground by a small grinder in the barn. The bran as a whole was good except that fed the last month, it being lighter and contained some foreigh matter, as oat and barley hulls. The oil meal was of high grade. The hay was just medium in quality, the oats being rather coarse and some of the clover darkened from exposure at the time of cutting. However as a rule the calves ate it readily. Most of the silage was from well matured corn produced

5 on the Oollege Farm and was a high grade produce, but as it become low in the silo it was rather sour and had black spots through it caused by the corn being less mature. Care was taken at all time that no moldy or spoiled silage was fed. PRICE OF FEED:- The cost of feed used in presenting financial results were based on the actual price paid at the time the experiment was in progress,and in case of the lay and silage, the price at which it was purchased at the time of harvesting. The average price of feed was:- Barley, ground $26.00 per ton, Oats, ground $26.00 per ton, Bran, delivered $30.00 per ton, Oil Meal, delivered $40.00 per ton, Hay $8.00 per ton and Silage $4.00 per ton. DESCRIPTIONS:. Nos. 1 to 7 inclusive, were bulls, and Nos. 8 to 15 inclusive were heifers. Nos. 13, 14, and 15 were the three heifers belonging to the College not sold at the sale. No. 1, White King (Figs. 1 and la) was a white bulls fred and owned by the College. He was thrifty, masculine appearing animal, had a good general conformation, was very deep, but lading in spring of rib and width throughout. He proved to be a heavy feeder, made rapid gains and had a wonderful covering of flesh over the back. His breeding was excellent, the sire being Choice King , and dam, Golden Frantic each tracing to World Champions and imported stock. No. 2, Mountain King (Figs. 2 and 2a), was a Roan bull bred and awned by John Wyatt. He had a very smooth body, was hardly as masculina in appearance as desired and was a little leggy but this was less noticeable as he gained in flesh. His back was exceptionally

6 broad and well covered, and he had a round that surpassed any animal of similar age at the sale. He was not a heavy feeder awing to lack of capacity. No. 3, Oak Shade Boy (Figs. 3 and 3a), was a red bull g bred and owned by John Wyatt. He was plain in appearance, lacked masculinity, and was very deficient back of the shoulders and in heart girth. At the start of the experiment he was also very poor, paunchy, and badly infected with lice and ticks. After being freed of these parasites he proved to be a heavy feeder, filled out considerably back of the shoulders, made as large gains as any, and with one exception the most economical gains. No. 4, Joe Knowles , was a white bull bred and owned by John Wyatt. He was furnished a nurse cow throughout the test. In appearance he was exceptionally smooth, broad and level with good lines, well proportioned, a little fine in bone, but the most promising of the lot at the start. However he proved to be a rather delicate and a light feeder. Early in the experiment he contracted a severe cold which bothered him for some time, but awing to the milk he was getting,made fair gains. His outcome without a nurse cow would have been questiomable, but might have been equally as good. The test showed that a nurse cow increases the cost of gain materially. No. 5, Bonnie Boy, a roan bull, No. 6, Master , a roan bull, and No. 7 Red Rambler, a red bull, all bred and awned by Mr. Dick Kiger, were very much of the same type. They had rather plain heads, were slightly deficient back of the shoulders, a trifle narrow and lacked masculinity. No. 7 did not have depth equal to Nos. 5 and 6, and did not make as great or as economical gains.

7 -6- No. 8, Martha Linden , a roan heifer bred and owned by Dick Kiger, was the best of the lot, being deep and broad, smooth, well proportioned, was a very heavy feeder and made rapid gains. No. 9, Helen , a red heifer bred and awned by Dick Kiger, was finer in bone, very smooth, the lightest feeder of the lot and made the lowest average gain in weight. No. 10, Island Queen , a roan heifer bred and owned by Dick Kiger, was a rougher animal, poor in head, a little dawn in the back, but was a good feeder and madq quite rapid gains. No. 11, White May a white heifer bred and owned by Dick Kiger, as fine in bone, very thin in flesh at the start of the test, lacked covering over the back, but had lots of quality. She was a heavier feeder than No. 9, and made slightly greater gains. No. 12, Linda a light roan heifer bred and awned by Dick Kiger was rather thin at the start, poorly covered over the back, high off the ground, was very nervous and wild and required careful handling. She proved to be a good feeder and made the most economical galas of any of the heifers. Nos. 13 and 14, were both purebred Shorthorn heifers of good type and were in good condition at the beginning of the test. No. 15 was a pure bred Hereford, heavy under the throat, heavy over the shoulders, but fattened very easily. She looked to be with calf. AGES:- The ages of the calves at the time they were placed in the test were about as follows: No. 1, 10 months; No. 2, 7 months; No. 3, 5 months; No. 4, 6 mtnths; No. 7, 6 months; No. 8, 7 months; No. 9 6 months; No. 10, 7 months; No. 11, 6 months; No. 12, 7 months; No. 13, 11 months; No. 14, 9 months and No. 15, 10 monthst

8 TABLE 81107ING TEIGHTS. 1:AILY GAIN. DAILY FEED. FEED PER 100 LBS. GAIN AND COST PER 100 LBS. GAIN, FOR 14 DAY PERIODS. Cost Period : Wt. : It. : Daily : Total Daily feed lbs. :: Feed per 100 lbs. gain :: 100# 14 days: No.:Begin :Close : Gain : Grain : Fay : Milk :: Grain : Ray :Silage : Milk :: Gain Oct , No. 7 Nov Nov Dec t P- : Dec Jan

9 TABLE NO. l(gont) TABLE SHO1ING - 1EIGHTS. DAILY GAIN. DAILY 'TEED. FEED PER 100 LBS. GAIN AND COST PER 100 LBS. GAIN, FOR 14 DAY PRIODS Cost 100# Period Wt. Wt. Daily 1 Total Daily Feed lbs. -- Fee 14 days : No.:Begin :Close : Gain ::Grain : Hay :Silage :Milk ::Grain Jan Jan Feb d per 100 lbs. gain - : Fay :Silage :Milk :: Gain Feb March

10 TABLE NO. 2 TABLE SIDIING -:7EIGHTS, DAILY GAIN, DAILY FEED, PEED PER 100 LBS., GAIN and COST PER 100 LBS. GAIN, FOR 14 DAY PERIODS. Period %rt. 7/t. Daily -Average 14 days c/u.l.l1. : Gain :: Grain Dec Dec , Jan , Cost Daily Feed Lbs. - Feed Per 100 Lbs Gain 100 # Hay : Silage :: Grain : Hay : Silage :: Gain a , , , , , $ ,

11 01 '-4 1 TABLE NO. 2 (Cont) TABLE :3110JING -3EIGHT5, DAILY GAIN, DAILY, FEED, FEED PER 100 LBS., GAIN AND COST PER GAIN, FOR 14 DAY PERIODS 100 LBS., Period Wt. It. Daily Average Daily feed Lbs. Feed per 100 # Gain Cost 100# 14 days :No.: Begin :Close :Gain :::Grain : Hay :Silage : :: Grain : Hay : Silage : Gain Jan , Jan Feb s

12 TABLE NO. 2 (cont) TABLE SHG7ING [EIGHTS, DAILY GAIN, DAILY FEED, FEED PER 100 LBS., GAIN, AND COST PER 100 LBS., GAIN, FOR 14 DAY PERIODS. Cost?etbod Wt. It. Daily Average Daily Feed lbs. Feed per 100# Gain 100# 14 days : No. : Begin : Close : Gain : Grain : Hay : Silatge :: Grain : Hay : Silage :: Gain Feb r-4 March , ,

13 TABLE NO. 3 TABLE SHOWING WEIGHTS, DAILY GAINS, DAILY FEED, FEEDPER 100 LBS. GAIN AND COST PER 100 LBS. GAIN FOR 14 DAY PERIODS Period Wt. it. Average Total Feed for period 14 days : No. :Begin :Close :Daily Gain: Grain : Hay :Silage Feed per 100 lbs gain ::Grain : Hay : Silage Cost :1100# in Jan Jan Jan w,--, 1 Feb ;V Feb Mar

14 -13- TABLES NO 1, 2 and 3 show the weiits of the individual calves at the beginning and close of each 14 day period throughout the experiment, the average daily gain, the average daily feed, the feed per 100 pounds gain and the cost per 100 pounds gain. It will be seen that the six bulls, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, ate more than the heifers on the average, made greater gains and more economical gains. No. 3 made rapid and very economical gains early in the experiment due to his extremely thin condition. The three heifers NOS. 13, 14, and 15 made gains that compared very favorable with the heifers On full feed but they were considerable older and heavier to start with. They made slightly larger gains than the other heifers and the gains were more economical. NURSE COW:- The amount of grain eaten by No. 4 was small due to the amount of milk he was getting. Biguring the milk at market value it practically equaled the cost the feeding the

15 TABLE NO. 4 TABLE SHO1ING LEIGHT AT BEGINNING, WEIGHT AT CLOSE, TOTAL GAIN, Average DAILY GAIN, TOTAL FEED, FEED PER 100 LBS., GAIN AND COST PER 100 LBS., GAIN FOR ENTIRE PERIODS. PERIOD 154 da. :No. It. :Begin Wt. Total :Close : Gain : Ave. Daily Gain %%tit Total.0.eed for Period Feed per 100# Gain :: Grain A Hay - Silage -Milk :: Grain - Hay - Silage - Milk ::Gain 7ar , r-i 1 Period 112 Ea Dec. 5 var , Period 84 da Jan , S

16 Oct. 24 TABLE NO. 5 TABLE SHOIING TOTAL HAY,AEDUET OF HAY CONSUMED, AMOUNT OF KAY 1ASTED, and PERCENTAGE OF HAY WASTED. Total Hay Hay Consumed Hay 4asted Percentage hay lasted ,443 3, March 27 4 Dec , !_cl) :arch Jan ,924 2,

17 TABLE NO. 6 TABLE SHO-IING ESTIVATED VALUE AT START OF EXTERIMENT, COST OF GAM, COST OF SELLING, SELLING PRICE and NET RETURNS Period 154 da. No. Estimated Value Cost of Gains Cost of Total selling Selling Price Net Returns Oct $ $ $ $ Mar ft Period 113 da Dec " It ft u ft Mar It

18 -17- IN TABLE NO. 6 :- the estimated values were obtained as follows: The College estimated No. 1 at the price quoted at the time the three bulls belonging to Mr. Wyatt were brought to the College, the Department offered him # for the three estimating them as quoted but he preferred to see whet they would bring him in the sales ring so gave the College one-third their sale price for feeding and selling them. Mr, Niger offered his eight head for per head but failed to sell them. The estimated value averaged about $85.00 as quoted. The Cost of gain is for the total number of pounds gained at the actual cost of production (Table 3). The cost of selling per head includes the following items: Cataloging,: $10.50; Freight, 42.44; Yardage, 40.25; Hay, 40.71; Grain 40.78; Straw, $0.59; Insurance, 40.10; Attendant, 41.03; Incidental The net return far No. 4 shows a loss, the result of furnishing a nurse cow.

19 -18- SHIPPING:- The calves were shipped to lest Portland along with two old bulls and two two year olds, One old bull and one two year old belonged to Dick Kiger, one two year old to Jay Reynolds, and one old bull to the College. They were all sold tn the sale. 2 box car was used to ship them in. Ties were arranged alon: one side of the car about eighteen inches from the floor by means of twq by fours and the car well bedded. A portion of one end of the car was double decked to make a place to carry the feed. Sufficient grain of the usual mixture was taken to last until after the sale. 21so hay to feed on the trip, buckets and a water barrel for watering and pans to feed grain in. The cattle were loaded about 2:00 o'clock p.m. rarch 27 and reached North Portland the next day at noon. They were fed at the usual periods and watered right on the car. SELLING!- Yardage room was provided by the Stock Yards Company, hay and bedding being obtained from them. The next day after arriving the cattle were cleaned and groomed in the best possible shape for the sale on Tuesday March 30. A total of ninety head, all pure bred Shorthorns were sold in the sale. Following the sale the owner cared for his cattle until 6:00 o'clock p.m. of the day following the sale, when they are turned over to the purchaser.

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