niVlSIOX OF AXIlllL HiSBlNDRY 439 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S 

 SHEEP FEEDING EXPERIMENT. 



The work in Iamb feeding was again carried out along similar lines as those 

 fi)llowed during the past two winters with quite satisfactory results. 



Two hundred and fifty range lambs and fifty yearling wethers were purchased 

 from A. Green, of Taher, Alta., through Mr. Geo. Kerr. Delivery was taken on October 

 10. They were run on stubble fields till November 1, when the feeding experiment 

 began. 



GENERAL OUTLINE. 



The primal object of the experiment was to obtain data regarding the possibility 

 of marketing alfalfa hay profitably through the feeding of range sheep. They were 

 divided into groups of fifty each. The yearlings were put in group I and were fed 

 similarly to group II which was made up of lambs. In every case each group was 

 fed what alfalfa they would clean up at all times. The different lots were fed as 

 follows : — 



Group I. — Alfalfa, meal and roots (yearlings). 

 Group II. — Alfalfa, meal and roots (lambs). 

 Group III. — Alfalfa and roots (lambs). 

 Group IV. — Alfalfa and meal (lanAs). 

 Group V. — Alfalfa and screenings (lambs). 

 Group VI. — Alfalfa alone (lambs). 



Groups I, II, IV, and V were sold March 15, but Groups III and VI, which were 

 fed respectivel.v alfalfa and roots and alfalfa alone, were carried for a longer period. 

 From March 15 they were fed meal, and were sold May 9, being sheared just previous 

 to this date. The yield of wool averaged 8 pounds per head and sold for IGi cents 

 per pound. The selling price of the four lots sold March 15 was $7 per cwt. with no 

 shrink^ and the price obtained for the two lots sheared was $6.00 per cwt., with no 

 shrink. They were sold in each case to Delaney's Limited, of Lcthbridge. 



In calculating the cost of feeding, the fallowing prices were charged: — 



Alfalfa hay $12 00 per ton. 



Meal — equal parts of wheat, oats, and barley 20 00 " 



Screenings 9 00 " 



Roots (turnips) 3 00 



The quality of the screenings fed this year was particularly good, as they contained 

 in addition to weed seeds a good proportion of cracked wheat. 



