FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



85 



The experiment is discussed in relation to experiments made else- 

 where. The lambs consumed on an average 7.37 lbs. of dry matter per 

 pound of gain. A compilation made at the Ohio station 1 shows that 

 an average of 10.24 lbs. of dry matter were consumed by cattle to a 

 pound of gain, while Lawes and Gilbert estimated that cattle required 

 11 lbs. and sheep 9 lbs. of dry matter for a pound of gain. " The better 

 results from both cattle and sheep at the Iowa station than those 

 reported elsewhere are doubtless in part due to the fact that younger 

 animals were used. . . . The evidence all indicates a higher gain, how- 

 ever, from a given amount of grain fed to sheep than when fed to cattle.' 1 

 The results of this experiment are compared with those of an experi- 

 ment with cattle (p. 82) : 



"In summing up this comparison we find that while the sheep ate 48 per cent more 

 per 1,000 11»8. live weight than cattle, they also gained nearly 75 per cent more. . . . 

 Other things being equal, the sheep apparently makes more economical gain than 

 the steer. There are two other features that should also be noted in this connection 

 viz, the value of the droppings from cattle and the returns from the fleece of the 

 sheep. While these are quite variable, it is safe to say that the wool feature will 

 usually compensate for any advantage the cattle may have in the droppings." 



The water consumed per 1,000 lbs. live weight and per pound of gain 

 was also determined, but no marked variations were noticed between 

 the different breeds of sheep. 



Shortly before the close of the experiment the sheep were sheared. 

 The weight of each fleece and the average weight for each breed were 

 recorded. Later in the season the wool was sold and the loss of weight 

 in scouring and the value of the wool when scoured were ascertained. 

 These data are given in the following table: 



Results of shearing sheep. 



•The values in this column are obtained by dividing the value of wool from each breed by the num- 

 ber oT sheep. The Chicago weights varied a little from the borne weights taken at date of shearing. 



At the close of the experiment the sheep were sold in Chicago at 

 $4.25 to $4.75 per hundred, except one lot (tne Dorsets), which brought 

 only $3.75 per hundred. It was found on slaughtering that the dressed 

 weight of the lambs was from 51.8 to 57.8 per cent of the live weight 



'Ohio Sta. Eul. 00 (E. S. R., 8, p. 75). 



