EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 163 



both cases, but Lot I consumed 51.25 lbs. more clover hay than Lot III, a slight 

 advantage in its favor as to total quantity of digestible nutrients consumed, but 

 even this could not have made a difference of more than four or five pounds in 

 the increase in live weight. As the total gain from Lot I was 506.3 lbs. and that 

 from Lot III was 504.6, the former exceeded the latter by only 1.7 lbs. When we 

 consider that thirty-six lambs were used in this part of the test, and that the 

 feeding period continued eighty-five days, this small difference in gain in live 

 weight cannot be considered. The only inference we can make in regard to the 

 relative feeding values of dried beet pulp and corn, judging from the results of 

 this one experiment with lambs, is that they are practically equal. As to the 

 cost, one cwt. of increase in live weight from the corn ration cost $4.88, while 

 the same increase from the pulp ration cost but $4.18, a difference of 70 cents in 

 favor of the latter, but as the values of corn and pulp are subject to fluctuation, 

 this is not a stable basis on which to fix a comparison. 



GBAIN MIXTURES ALONE VERSUS GRAIN MIXTURES PLUS EQUAL AMOUNT OF DRIED BEET 



PULP BY WEIGHT. 



The ration of Lot I consisted solely of grain and grain by-products, viz.: corn 

 four parts, bran 2 and linseed meal 1, while the ration for Lot II consisted of 

 corn 4 parts, bran 2, linseed meal 1, and dried beet pulp 7, or, in other words, 

 equal parts of grain mixture and beet pulp. Precisely the same amounts of con- 

 centrates from these two rations were fed to the two lots of lambs during the ex- 

 periment, but Lot I receiving the grain mixture, consumed 206 lbs. more clover 

 hay than Lot II, one-half of whose ration consisted of beet pulp. As Lot I gained 

 but 506 3 lbs. and Lot II 533.3 lbs., the latter produced 27 lbs. more mutton, and 

 at a cost of $1.04 per cwt; less than the lot receiving the grain ration without pulp. 

 In fact, a perusal of the data given shows the lot of lambs receiving the grain and 

 pulp mixture to have made not only the largest gains of the five lots, but to have 

 produced these gains at the lowest cost. This is quite in accord with the popular 

 belief that the sheep gives best returns from a variety of foodstuffs, and it is 

 possible that the beet pulp may have acted as a stimulus to the vital functions 

 of the animals. 



Along this same line, the data from a preceding year shows similar results. 

 During the winter of 1902 and 1903, two lots of wethers of fifteen each and also 

 two lots of lambs of ten each were fed on a similar plan. 



TEST WITH THE WETHEBS. 



Fifteen yearling wethers comprising Lot I were fed forty days on a grain 

 ration consisting of corn 4 parts, bran 2 and linseed meal 1. Of this grain mix- 

 ture they consumed on the average 2.48 lbs. per head per day, and 1.41 lbs. clover 

 hay. The fifteen wethers of Lot II received a ration containing the same grain 

 mixture, to which dried beet pulp was added to the extent of eight-nineteenths 

 of its weight. Of this combination they consumed 2.48 lbs. per head per day, 

 and 1.41 lbs. of clover hay. Lot I in the forty days gained 256 lbs. at a cost of 

 $7.87 per cwt., while Lot II, receiving the grain mixture containing pulp, gained 

 275.3 lbs. in the same time at a cost of $6.35 per cwt. 



TEST WITH THE LAMBS. 



The two lots of lambs of ten each also fed in 1902 and 1903 consumed rations 

 duplicating those just described for the wethers. The lambs of Lot I consumed 

 1.9 lbs. of the 'grain mixture without pulp and 1.42 lbs. of clover hay daily. 

 Lot II, receiving the grain mixture with pulp added, consumed 1.9 lbs. of con- 

 centrates and 1.39 lbs. of clover hay daily. The first lot gained 160.3 lbs. during 

 forty days at a cost of $5.33 per cwt., while the second lot gained 140.6 lbs. during 

 the same time at a cost of $5.29 per cwt. In this one instance, the largest gain 

 was made by the lot of lambs receiving the grain mixture without pulp, but the 

 cost of production was less where pulp was used in the ration. In the 1902 and 

 1903 tests, the rations of concentrates were so exceedingly large that comparative 

 results with striking differences were not expected. In these earlier tests the 

 foods were valued at practically the same prices as in the later one?. 



