482 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



The above figures show that the lambs in lot II made an 

 average total gain at the average age of 3 months (93.61 days) 

 of 2.54 pounds more than the lambs in lot I at the average age 

 of 4 months (122.5 days). 



The lambs sired by the better ram averaged 28.89 days 

 younger than the other lambs and the final weight of the former 

 were 3.5 pounds greater, illustrating the great advantage de- 

 rived from a good sire. As shown in the last line of the table, 

 the lambs which were sired by the superior ram made an average 

 daily gain of .532 pounds as compared with .387 pounds daily 

 gain made by the lambs sired by the inferior ram, or 26.6 per 

 cent greater gain in favor of lambs sired by the better ram. 



It was not possible to obtain the weights of the lambs at 

 exactly the same age. Table III shows the weights and gain 

 of the lambs at practically the same age, however — the difference 

 between the two lots being only .89 of a day in favor of lot 1. 

 This difference is so small that it does not cause any material 

 difference in the results. 



TABLE III.— WEIGHTS AND GAINS OF LAMBS AT THREE MONTHS OF AGE 



EIGHTEEN LAMBS IN EACH LOT. 



Lot I. 



Lambs sired by 



inferior ram. 



Lot II. 

 Lambs sired by 

 superior ram. 



Age in days . . . 



Average weight at birth 



Average weight at 3 months of age 



Average total gain 



Average daily gain 



94.50 



8.79 



50.33 



41.54 



.439 



93.61 



9.75 



59.72 



49.97 



.533 



The above table shows that at practically the same age 

 the lambs sired by the better ram were' 9.39 pounds heavier 

 and made a total gain of 8.43 pounds more. In general, younger 

 lambs will make a greater daily gain than older ones providing 

 they have sufficient feed and that they are comparable in con- 

 dition. Thus the difference in the average daily gain presented 

 in Tables II and III of the two lots of lambs can be partially 

 accounted for. 



Feed Consumed by Lambs. — The difference in the amount 

 of grain consumed by the lambs is more marked that the dif- 

 ference in their weights. 



Table IV shows the feed consumed by lambs. 



