Steer and Lamb-Feeding Trials With Various Forms of Sugar-Beet Pulp 1
Lot 1 Dried beet pulp $ 6.77 per head Lot II Pressed beet pulp 11.16 per head
Lot I I I Siloed beet pulp 11.22 per head Lot IV Hay and grain 5.17 per head in both years there was a larger margin of profit with the wet
-pulp lots of cattle than with the dried-molasses-ptdp or hay lot.
Highlights of First Year's Lamb-Feeding Trial
One Year's Results.—It should be stated at the outset that one
year's trial is not sufficient to be conclusive. This trial has, how
-ever, indicated the practicability of marketing locally produced feeds through lambs. A repetition of the test is contemplated during 1941.
Rate of Gains.- The rate of gain of the siloed-pulp lambs in this year's trial was significantly higher than the other three lots. The addition of wet pulp to a basal ration of grain and hay and molasses resulted in a definite increase in gain and a better, more-uniform finish.
Cost of Gains. - The lambs fed wet pulp made considerably cheap-
er gains than those fed the dried pulp or the hay and grain. The cost per 100 pounds gain for lot II (siloed pulp) was $5.86, lot I
(pressed pulp) $6.31, lot III (dried pulp) $7.83, and lot IV (hay and grain) $7.95.
Replacement Value of Wet Beet Pulp. — Comparing lot I
(pressed pulp) with lot IV (hay and grain), a ton of pressed pulp replaced 82.9 pounds of ground barley, 548.5 pounds of alfalfa hay, and 24.6 pounds of molasses.
Comparing lot II (siloed pulp) with lot IV (hay and grain), a
ton of siloed pulp replaced 139.9 pounds of ground barley, 636 pounds
of alfalfa hay, and 44.2 pounds of molasses.
1 5 6 A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y S T J C A K - B F E T T E C H N O L O G I S T S
S l a u g h t e r a n d G r a d e I n f o r m a t i o n . — T h e - d r e s s i n g p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e l a m b s i n t h e d r i e d - p u l p a n d h a y - a n d - g r a i n lots w e r e h i g h e r t h a n the lots fed wet p u l p .
In g r a d e of c a r c a s . , which i n d i c a t e s finish, t h e s i l o e d - p u l p lot w a s s u p e r i o r as shown by t h e l a r g e s t p e r c e n t a g e of choice carcasses.
A l l f o u r lots of lambs g r a d e d out very well as t h e carcasses w e r e well covered.
O p e r a t o r ' s F i n a n c i a l S t a t e m e n t . — T h e f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t shows a feed profit in each lot b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y favorable in t h e w e t - p u l p Jots. It should be r e m e m b e r e d , however, t h a t t h e p r e v a i l i n g feed p r i c e s w e r e q u i t e low, t h a t t h e owner, Mr. Gasser, is an e x p e r i e n c e d lamb feeder, a n d t h e l a m b s were fed u n d e r ideal feed lot c o n d i t i o n s .
S u g a r B e e t s a n d L i v e s t o c k . — T h e value of a livestock f e e d i n g p r o g r a m in a s u g a r - b e e t - p r o d u c i n g area is largely in t h e m a n u r e p r o d u c e d for use on the l a n d .
S u m m a r y o f L a m b - F e e d i n g T r i a l s
Upon t h e completion of the steer-feeding t r i a l s t h e r e w a s con- s i d e r a b l e d e m a n d t h a t s i m i l a r t r i a l s b e c o n d u c t e d w i t h l a m b s . Y o l o C o u n t y being one of t h e 10 largest sheep c o u n t i e s in t h e s t a t e w i t h m a n y sugar-beet g r o w e r s also i n the sheep business, i t was felt t h a t such t r i a l s would be of m u c h v a l u e since f a t t e n i n g of l a m b s for m a r - ket is becoming more and m o r e of a p r a c t i c e in C a l i f o r n i a .
Proceedings - THIRD GENERAL MEETING 157 T h e S p r e c k e l s S u g a r C o m p a n y w i t h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f the s a m e agencies a n d H e n r y Gasser. c o m m e r c i a l l a m b f e e d e r o f W o o d l a n d , outlined a n d got u n d e r w a y a lamb-feeding t r i a l on O c t o b e r 1, 1940.
Procedure
Lambs Used.— F r o m a b a n d of 725 e a s t e r n Oregon white-faced lambs of R a m b o u i l l o t - C o r r i e d a l e b r e e d i n g , 600 l a m b s w e i g h i n g 61 p o u n d s were selected for u n i f o r m i t y of size a n d w e i g h t . T h e y w e r e a m e d i u m t y p e of feeder Jambs of only f a i r q u a l i t y b u t f a i r l y r e p r e - sentative of t h e t y p e of l a m b fed in t h i s locality. These l a m b s were shorn a n d t h e n d i v i d e d into f o u r lots of 150 l a m b s each and. p l a c e d in t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e feedlots.
Feedlots.—-Mr. G a s s e r ' s l a m b - f e e d i n g q u a r t e r s p r o v i d e d a n ideal setup for this t r i a l . T h e lots w e r e all u n d e r roof, c o n c r e t e floored (kept well b e d d e d ) , with excellent facilities for feeding, w e i g h i n g , etc. The l a m b s w e r e c o n f i n e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e t r i a l t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e lots.
Rations Fed.- T h e r a t i o n s fed w e r e i d e n t i c a l to those used in t h e steer-feeding t r i a l s , t h e p u r p o s e b e i n g to evaluate these feeds for lambs as well as s t e e r s .
Lot I P r e s s e d beet p u l p , g r o u n d barley, cane molasses, a n d g r o u n d alfalfa hay.
Lot II Siloed beet p u l p , g r o u n d barley, c a n e molasses, a n d g r o u n d alfalfa h a y .
Lot I I I D r i e d molasses beet p u l p , g r o u n d b a r l e y , a n d g r o u n d alfalfa h a y .
Lot TV G r o u n d barley, cane molasses, a n d g r o u n d alfalfa h a y . (Check l o t ) .
Methods of F e e d i n g - — T h e r a t i o n s were so r e g u l a t e d t h a t t h e three p u l p lots received a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e same a m o u n t o f d r y m a t - ter. The molasses fed to t h e w e t - p u l p - a n d - h a y lots was c o m p a r a b l e to that c o n t a i n e d in the d r i e d - m o l a s s e s - p u l p lot. T h e same a m o u n t of b a r l e y w a s fed to each lot. T h e alfalfa, h a y w a s c o a r s e l y g r o u n d a n d fed in self-feeders which allowed each lot to c o n s u m e h a y at will.
The p u l p was fed twice a d a y , in t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g a n d a g a i n in 1he e a r l y a f t e r n o o n . T h e molasses was mixed w i t h t h e wet p u l p in lots T a n d I I , a n d w i t h t h e h a y in lot TV. T h e a l f a l f a h a y was of m e d i u m q u a l i t y . T h e g r o u n d barley used in t h e first 60 d a y s w a s only of fair q u a l i t y but for the finishing period whole b a r l e y of ex- cellent q u a l i t y w a s fed. T h e barley was fed once a d a y at t h e s t a r t , later twice a d a y , a n d d u r i n g t h e f i n i s h i n g p e r i o d t h r e e t i m e s d a i l y . This gave all l a m b s m o r e of a c h a n c e to get t h e i r b a r l e y a n d p r e - vented t h e m from g e t t i n g a n excessive a m o u n t a t a n y one t i m e .
F r e e access t o block salt a n d clean w a t e r was a v a i l a b l e t o e a c h lot at all t i m e s .
158 AMERICAN- SOCIETY SUGAR-BEET TECHNOLOGISTS
The pens were bedded down with rice hulls whenever necessary to insure dryness.
Weighing.—The lambs were given a 10-day preliminary feeding to get them on feed before the initial weights were taken. The lambs were weighed on October 10 following their morning feed for their initial weight, and then every 2 weeks until the final weighing on the day of shipment. The lambs in each lot were branded with their respective lot number for identification purposes in case of mix up.
Bringing the Lambs on Feed.—This is a very important step in commercial lamb feeding. Lambs are more sensitive to a change of feed and particularly to concentrates than steers, and the feeder should exercise special care in bringing lambs on feed.
From a start of 2 pounds of hay, 1.5 pounds of wet pulp, and .33 pound barley, the pulp and barley were gradually increased through- out the early feeding period until on the thirtieth day they were re- ceiving 1.6 pounds hay, 6.0 pounds of wet pulp, .66 pound barley, and .38 pound molasses per head. As the amount of barley was in- creased through the finishing period, hay and pulp consumption dropped off.
It was very noticeable that the siloed-pulp lot relished their pulp more than the pressed-pulp lot, consuming more hay throughout the test.
Mortality.—The death loss in this trial was approximately 1 percent which is lower than usually experienced. The reason for this was that lambs not coming on feed within a reasonable time or oth- erwise out of condition were removed from the pens and put on al- falfa pasture. Practically all of these lambs survived and were later fed out. On the other hand if they had remained, many would have died and greatly increased the death loss.
Feed corrections were made for all lambs that died or were re- moved.
Composition and Price of Feeds Used.—Daily samples of all feeds were taken and composited for analyses. Daily moistures were run on all wet pulp feed. Prices of feeds used were charged at the current market prices prevailing at the beginning of the trial.
Discussion of Results
Rate of Gain.—The rate of gain of the siloed-pulp iambs (.335
pound daily) was significantly higher than that of the other three
lots, particularly when compared to the hay-and-grain lot (.241
pound daily) which received the standard ration used by lamb feed-
ers in the district. The siloed-pulp lot in particular showed a better
and more uniform finish.
P R O C E E D I N G S — T H I R D GENERATION MEETING 159 Cost of G a i n s . — T h o u g h the a m o u n t of dry m a t t e r c o n s u m e d by the d r y - f e d a n d w e t - p u l p lots w a s e q u a l , the w e t - p u l p lots m a d e con- siderably cheaper gains than those fed the dried pulp or hay and
grain.
The cost per 100 pounds gain in the lots was as follows:
Lot L P r e s s e d p u l p $6.31 Lot II Siloed p u l p ... 5.86
Lot I I I D r i e d p u l p . . . 7.83 Lot IV H a y a n d g r a i n .. ... 7.95 T h e d i f f e r e n c e in t h e cost of 100 p o u n d s of g a i n b e t w e e n t h e siloed-pulp lot a n d t h e h a y - g r a i n lot of $2.09 is of v e r y significant i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e commercial l a m b feeder.
R e p l a c e m e n t V a l u e of W e t B e e t P u l p . — C o m p a r i n g lot I (pressed p u l p ) w i t h lot IV ( h a y a n d g r a i n ) , a ton of pressed p u l p replaced 82.9 p o u n d s of g r o u n d b a r l e y . 54S.5 p o u n d s of alfalfa h a y , and 24.6 p o u n d s of molasses, v a l u e d at $3.02.
C o m p a r i n g lot II (siloed p u l p ) with lot IV ( h a y a n d g r a i n ) , a ton of siloed p u l p r e p l a c e d 139.9 p o u n d s of g r o u n d b a r l e y , 636 p o u n d s of alfalfa h a y . a n d 44.2 p o u n d s of molasses, v a l u e d at $3.94.
S l a u g h t e r a n d G r a d e I n f o r m a t i o n . — T h e s l a u g h t e r d a t a showed that the d r e s s i n g p e r c e n t a g e s of t h e l a m b s in the d r i e d - p u l p a n d hay- a n d - g r a i n lots wore h i g h e r t h a n t h e lots fed wet p u l p . In g r a d e of carcass, which i n d i c a t e s finish, the s i l o e d - p u l p lot was s u p e r i o r as shown by t h e l a r g e s t p e r c e n t a g e of carcasses g r a d i n g choice. All four lots of l a m b s g r a d e d out very well. 89 p e r c e n t of t h e carcasses g r a d i n g good a n d choice.
O p e r a t o r ' s F i n a n c i a l S t a t e m e n t . — T h e f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t i s t h e chief interest of t h e commercial feeder s h o w i n g w h e t h e r t h e opera- lions h a v e been p r o f i t a b l e . T h e financial s t a t e m e n t of t h i s t r i a l shows a feed p r o f i t in each lot b u t was p a r t i c u l a r l y o u t s t a n d i n g in the w e t - p u l p Jots. O p e r a t i n g on a n a r r o w m a r g i n or s p r e a d of 1 cent p e r p o u n d , the feed cost profit v a r i e d from 96 c e n t s in lot IV (hay a n d g r a i n ) to $1.61 p e r l a m b in lot II (siloed p u l p ) . T h i s profit does not include labor, i n t e r e s t , taxes, or o v e r h e a d , n o r w a s any c r e d i t allowed for the m a n u r e p r o d u c e d .
Second Y e a r ' s T r i a l . — T o e v a l u a t e the f i n d i n g s of t h i s t r i a l , a, second trial is at this d a t e n e a r i n g c o m p l e t i o n . As soon as possible a s u m m a t i o n of t h e d a t a a n d t h e i r relation to t h i s t r i a l will be a v a i l - able.
C o n c l u s i o n s
It is t h e e a r n e s t belief of all p a r t i e s w o r k i n g on these t r i a l s t h a t a g r e a t d e a l of v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n w a s o b t a i n e d .
U p o n t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f each t r i a l a field d a y a n d b a r b e c u e w e r e held a t w h i c h t i m e t h e s h e e p m e n a n d c a t t l e m e n o f t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d other i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e s t e e r s a n d lambs a n d o b t a i n t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t s .
160 AMERICAN SOCIETY SUCAR-BEET TECHNOLOGISTS
These meetings were especially well attended which was most gratifying because the main object of these trials was to interest and instruct 1 he producers in livestock feeding.
The place, economy, and efficiency in a ration for fattening steers and lambs on the various forms of sugar-beet pulp when com- pounded with locally produced alfalfa hay and barley were definitely shown.
Valuable information was developed which demonstrated that it is possible and feasible to market home-grown feeds through live- stock and by so doing to produce large quantities of manure so vital to the maintenance of soil fertility.
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