EXPERIMENT ^STATION BULLETINS. 



329 



SERIES B. RATION EXPERIMENT WITH BREEDING EWES. 



For the 75 Day Period, Jan. 8, 1919 to Mar. 23, 1919, Incl. 



The experimental evidence here submitted would indicate that 13^ to 1^ 

 pounds of silage or roots can well be added to the winter ration of the breed- 

 ing ewe. 



Of these one hundred fifty ewes, nineteen failed to breed. The remaining 

 one-hundred thirty-one ewes gave birth to one hundred-fifty-two lambs. 

 Of these, fourteen died during lambing time, and three during the summer. 



In the fall of 1919, seventy-three lambs, consisting of wether lambs, cull 

 ewe lambs and cull ram lambs, also forty-three ewes, were sold. 



One very noticeable feature regarding the lambs, was the marked con- 

 trast between the wether and ram lambs, that had exactly the same chance 

 for development. The wether lambs were fat and considerably heavier 

 than the ram lambs at shipping time, and were worth about two cents a 

 pound more on the market. This needs emphasizing as many farmers do 

 not castrate the ram lambs. This means not only loss in weight, but a re- 

 duction in price per pound where lambs are past four months of age. 



The flock sheared an average of seven and one-fifth pounds of wool. Di- 

 rectly after shearing the sheep were dipped, then turned to pasture. The 

 lambs were docked and castrated when about two weeks old. 



FLOCK MANAGEMENT FALL 1919 TO FALL 1920. 



In the fall of 1919, two excellent rams, a Shropshire and a Hampshire, 

 were purchased, and a good Rambouillet ram from the College at East Lan- 

 sing was sent to this Station. 



