DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 599 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The sheep thereafter were enclosed in the sheds at night, where they were safe from 

 •logs. 



As loss from dogs is something that can be prevented by enclosing the feeding 

 lots with a dog-proof fence, we shall, in reporting this experiment, consider only the 

 number of sheep remaining in each group after the last visit from the dogs. The 

 gains made during the first month will, of course, be considerably smaller than 

 would have been the case had the trouble not occurred, for a good many were lamed 

 and injured generally. 



GEXERAL OUTLINES. 



• 



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

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



The plan followed was similar to the feeding test carried out last winter, except 

 that yearling wethers were used instead of lambs in the rive groups. One group of 

 lambs was* added and was fed the same as one of the groups of yearlings, i.e., alfalfa, 

 meal and roots. 



The yards are 100 by 25 feet, with a shed 12 by 25 at one end; this has an opening 

 $ feet wide in front, and it was this opening that had to be partially closed with 

 1 by 4 boards, placed 3 to 4 inches apart. At night the sheep were enclosed in these 

 sheds on account of the danger from dogs mentioned above. The sheep would 

 probably have been better off with a greater circulation of air than this allowed. 



The different lots were fed as follows : — 



Group I. — Alfalfa, mixed grains and roots (lambs). 

 Group II. — Alfalfa, mixed grains and roots (yearlings). 

 Group III. — Alfalfa and mixed grain (yearlings). 

 Group IV. Alfalfa and screenings (yearlings). 

 Group V. — Alfalfa alone (yearlings). 

 Group TV. — Alfalfa and roots (yearlings). 



In calculating the cost of feeding the following prices were charged: — 



Alfalfa hay $12.00 per ton. 



Meal mixture (2 oats, 2 wheat, and 1 bran) 20.00 per ton. 



Screenings 5.00 per ton. 



Hoots (turnips) 3.00 per ton. 



Attention is called to the fact that we are charging $12 per ton for hay this 

 year while $10 per ton was used in calculating the results of last year's experiment. 

 We also made a change in the price of roots, charging $3 instead of $2.50 per ton, 

 as was done last year. 



The meal mixture was made up of two parts of oats, two parts of wheat and one 

 part of bran. 



The screenings were obtained from the Taylor Milling and Elevator Co. of 

 Lethbridge. They were very light, indeed, but with them was mixed some badly 

 damaged wheat. This wheat had heated in the bin and was in bad condition. 



All the sheep except group VI were sold March 27. The Swift Canadian Com- 

 pany took 220, one double decked car; and a local firm, Geo. Delancy, took 14 head. 

 A flat price of 6-50 cents per pound for both the lambs and the yearlings was obtained. 

 Lot VI was held to be disposed of later, the idea being to shear them before selling. 



