-2-



made larger gains than the Brahman hybrids in the fourth trial-And lhile eifqrdSt gained as
well as any of the crossbreds except the Brahman-Charolais- -Ieford fiin' the third test.
British calves made gains similar to those of the crpssbreds in the first trial, while
lighter weight Angus calves made somewhat.slow4r gains than the various Brahman-European
crosses in the second test.

 Carcass grades of Brahman crossbreds have generally been as high as those of the
British cattle. In the first experiment, 3/8 Brahman-3/8 Charolais-1/4 Hereford, and in
the second and third tests, 1/2 Brahman-1/2 Hereford graded slightly lower. Lowest grading
carcasses usually had the highest estimated cutout. Often carcass grades were not as high
as expected, largely because of lack of marbling in both Brahman hybrid and British calves.
Most of the carcasses graded U. S. Good with a few U. S. Choice and U. S. Standard. Margins
of $3 or more per 100 pounds animal weight between the cost going on feed and the selling
price of the fat cattle wodld have been necessary to realize modest profits from the feeding
trials.

 A majority of the livers from cattle originating in South Florida had live flukes at
slaughter. When cattle with fluke-infested and clean livers were compared, it was apparent
that fluke infestation did not adversely affect feedlot performance or carcass character-
istics, although loss of the liver itself was significant economically.

 PROCEDURE

 Shortly after weaning, Brahman-European hybrid and Santa Gertrudis steer calves were
trucked to Quincy from Clewiston, Cocoa, and Loxahatchee, Florida. Ten head each of 1/2
Hereford-1/4 Brahman-1/4 Charolais, 1/2 Charolais-1/4 Brahman-1/4 Hereford, 1/2 Hereford-
1/4 Brahman-1/4 Angus, 1/2 Hereford-1/2 Brahman, Santa Gertrudis, 3/4 Brahman-1/4 Shorthorn,
and 1/2 Shorthorn-1/2 Brahman were delivered to the North Florida Experiment Station on
August 28. Hereford steer calves of approximately the same age were delivered from
Tallahassee on September 2. All calves were placed in dry lot on a light grain feed and
self-fed grass hay until September 17, when they were individually weighed and started on
trial. Early morning weights on September 17 corresponded closely to ranch weights taken
before the calves were shipped to Quincy. Because of close agreement between ranch delivery
and September 17 weights, the latter were used as initial experimental weights with no
shrink.

 When the trial began, feed was gradually increased for approximately three weeks after
which each group was consuming all the concentrates cleaned-up between once-a-day feedings.
Minerals were self-fed throughout the feeding period, while hay was self-fed for 60 days,
restricted for 80 days, and eliminated during the last 67 days. Ratios of concentrates to
roughage (including cob and shuck in snapped corn) ranged from 69:31 during the first 60
days to 81:19 toward the end of the trial. Table 1 shows the average percentages of
concentrates and roughage consumed by each group for the entire trial. The following ration
was fed:

 Ground snapped corn--according to appetite
 Citrus molasses-3.0 pounds per head daily first 60 days,
 4.0 pounds second 60 days, and
 2.5 pounds thereafter
 41% cottonseed meal--2.5 pounds per head daily
 Argentine Bahia grass hay--fed as previously noted
 Salt and steamed bonemeal-free-choice
 Vitamin A--25,000 I. U. per head daily