Table 1. Composition of Test Rations (percent)


Ingredient Ration 1 Ration 2 Ration 3 Ration 4

Celery Pulp 10.0 20.0 30.0
Sorghum Grain 45.6 40.2 34.6 29.2
Soybean Cil Meal 13.6 9.0 4.6
Citrus PulD 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0
Citrus Molasses 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
Mineral Mixture 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8


 The experimental rations were full-fed daily. Dehydrated Bermudagrass was
provided free choice to each group. An 11 day adjustment period preceded the
112 day experimental feeding trial. Individual weights were secured at 28 day
intervals and market grades were placed on steers at the beginning and termination
of the trial by a committee of four.

 The steers were slaughtered at the completion of the test and carcass grades
and various carcass measurements obtained. A sample of the loins were collected
for organoleptic tests. Rib eye area was measured and other quality factors re-
corded for each meat sample.

 Differences between ration groups, for all factors studied, were compared
and tested for statistical significance by an analysis of variance (3).

 Data from four Devon steers were used to obtain digestibility coefficients
for the dried celery tops. The steers were gradually conditioned to the intake
of straight dried celery tops in amounts sufficient for maintenance purposes. To
conform with previous findings, the preliminary period consisted of 7 days (4)
and the test collections were secured for 7 days (5). The steers weighed between
550 and 670 pounds and were maintained in concrete floored stanchions.
 Results

 There was a decided difference in the gains made during the four 28 day
 quarters of the test. The largest weight increases were experienced in the first
 28 days of the study for all steers combined (3.2 lbs/day) but the gains realized
 in the second and third 28 day quarters were almost as great. During the fourth
 and final 28 day period all gains were very small and every steer in group three
 actually lost weight in this final quarter. The poor performance by all steers
 during this fourth test quarter cannot be explained.

 The largest gains were made by the steers receiving the ration containing
 30 percent dried celery tops and the smallest by those on the 20 percent dried
 celery tops ration. The values in Table 2 indicate that the steers receiving
 rations 1 and 2 consumed more of the concentrate but less dehydrated grass than
 the stees receiving rations 3 and 4. 20 and 30 percent dried celery tops). There
 appears to be a decided "breaking point" between the 10 and 20 percent ration
 groups in the consumption of these two materials. The feed required, or utilized,
 to produce a pound of gain appeared to be directly related to the average gains
 made by the various groups; that is, groups making the largest gains also were
 the most efficient utilizers of the concentrate ration. Differences between
 ration groups for gains were not statistically significant.