774 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fed rape and lot 2 was given the range of a blue-grass pasture. In 

 addition both lots were fed a mixture of peas and corn 1:1. At the 

 beginning of the test lot 1 weighed 3,022.5 lbs. and lot 2, 3,232.5 lbs. 

 The gains made by the 2 lots were 50L and 325 lbs. respectively. Lot 

 2 was fed the rape from 0.64 acre. Each lot consumed 878 lbs. of the 

 grain mixture. During the second period both lots were fed in sheds, 

 and given similar rations, consisting of hay and a mixture of corn and 

 peas 1:1, the object being to compare the influence of the previous 

 pasturing on fattening. Lot 1 gained 952 lbs. and lot 2, 858 lbs. Each 

 lot consumed 4,084 lbs. of grain. Lot 1 consumed 2,488 lbs. of hay and 

 lot 2 2,703.5, a difference of 215.5 lbs. in favor of lot 1. 



" From the results it will be seen that when the 2 lots were put in pens and fed 

 similar rations, lot 1 that had rape instead of pasture made a greater gain than the 

 other lot, aud they also ate less hay, thus showing the beneficial influence of pastur- 

 ing lambs on rape in the fall previous to fattening them." 



Grain for lambs before weaning, J. A. Craig ( Wisconsin Sta. Ept. 

 1897, pp. 37—11). — The author quotes earlier work (E. S. E., 8, p. 714), 

 and reports additional tests of the value of grain before and after 

 weaning. In 1896 a test was made of 4 lots of 6 lambs to compare 

 corn meal, oats, bran, and cracked peas. The test began April 14 and 

 covered 12 weeks before weaning. Three ewes ran with the lambs in 

 each lot and were given the same rations as the lambs mentioned 

 below. The financial statement is based on oats at 20 cts., corn at 

 30 cts., and peas at 45 cts. per bushel, and bran at $13 per ton. The 

 results are summarized in the following table: 



Results of feeding grain to lambs before weaning in 1S96. 



Lot, 



Food. 



Weight at 

 beginning. 



Total 

 gain. 



Food eaten 



per pound 



of gain. 



Cost of food 



per pound 



of gain. 



Ground corn , 

 Whole oats... 



Bran 



Cracked peas 



Pounds. 

 153.0 

 145.5 

 144.0 

 145.5 



Pounds. 

 297.5 

 298.5 

 307.5 

 298.0 



Pound. 

 0.19 



.20 

 .75 



Cent. 



0.10 

 .40 

 .12 

 .52 



In 1897 a test was made with 4 lots of 6 Shropshire grade lambs, 3 

 ewes running with each lot. The test covered the 10 weeks previous 

 to weaning. The conditions of the experiment were the same as in the 

 preceding test. The results were as follows: 



lit suits of feeding grain to lambs before weaning in 1897. 



Lot. 



Food. 



Weight at 

 beginning. 



Total 

 gain. 



Food eaten 



per pound 



of gain. 



Cost of food 



per pound 



of gain. 



Ground corn . 

 Whole oats... 



Bran 



Cracked peas 



Pounds. 

 314.0 



316. 

 299.5 

 307.0 



Pounds. 

 214.5 

 211.5 

 181.0 



188.0 



Pound. 



0.55 



.51 



.53 



.69 



Cent. 



0.27 

 .30 

 .31 



.48 



