533 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. 



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



SHEEP FEEDING EXPERIMENT. 



The investigations in connection with feeding sheep on alfalfa hay began last 

 year with lambs, and was continued this winter. Unfortunately, the limited number 

 of range lambs offered for sale in the autumn of 1912, together with the keen demand 

 that existed for all kinds of live stock for feeding purposes, made the purchase of 

 suitable lambs at a reasonable price extremely difficult. 



In lieu of lambs, 250 head of yearling wethers were purchased. These were 

 divided into five lots of 50 each, and were given the same combinations of feed as 

 were used in the feeding experiment carried on during the winter of 1911-12. In 

 addition to these 250 yearlings, we were able to get 50 lambs, which were fed on the 

 same kinds of feed as were one of the lots, group II of yearlings. 



PURCHASE AXD DESCRIPTION OF SHEEP. 



On November 26, 250 yearling wethers and 50 lambs were purchased from H. A. 

 Suggitt, of Coaldale, Alberta. The yearlings were small, medium smooth. Merino 

 grade wethers, quite fine in the bone. These were taken out of a bunch of Montana 

 range sheep that Mr. Suggitt had recently purchased. The lambs, obtained from the 

 same party, were good grades, showing a little stronger infusion of the mutton 

 breeds on the Merino foundation than is usual with range sheep in this district 



The 250 yearlings cost $3.75 per head, and the lambs 5£ cents per pound. 



TROUBLE WITH DOGS. 



The experiment was begun on November "0. The yearlings were divided into 

 five groups of 50 each. Considerable care was taken to see that the division was made 

 evenly and that the lots- were about equal in quality and weight. Group I consisted 

 of the 50 lambs and groups II, III, IV, V and VI were yearlings. Four days 

 after feeding began, or on the morning of December 3, clogs got into the pens and 

 injured a large number by chasing and biting them on different part- of the body. 

 None of the lots were spared, but they did the most damage to group V, where they 

 killed five outright and injured twenty-five more or less severely. Twenty-eight more 

 yearlings were purchased from Mr. Suggitt to replace those killed and seriously 

 injured. 



Although careful watch was kept, the pens were again visited by dogs on the 

 early morning of December 21. This time fewer sheep were killed outright, but the 

 dogs worried all the groups. Many were severely bitten, and it was several days 

 before the lame ones all recovered. 



The kind of fencing used for the corrals was an ordinary eight strand woven 

 wire fence. 46 inches high. It is evident that this is not sufficient to protect sheep 

 from the attack of dog^. After the seqpnd visitation, the openings in front of each 

 shed were boarded up with 1 by 1 boards with a 3£-irich space left between each board. 



