POODS — ANIMAL PRODUCTION 579 



pound of gain for the lots was 4.37 cts., 5.15 cts., 4.58 cts., and 5.58 cts., 

 respectively. The results of the previous test are quoted at length. 

 From all the work the following conclusions were drawn: 



The best gains were made on corn and peas, and the gains were more 

 cheaply made than on any ration except corn. Adding oats to the 

 ration had very little influence on the gain, while it materially increased 

 the cost. When corn was the only grain fed it was found that the 

 hi nibs were apt to lose their appetite, though digestive disorders were 

 not observed. 



•No losses were experienced either from the docking or the dipping. 

 If the lambs had not been treated in this way, it is certain that they 

 would not have made much progress in feeding and they would not 

 have brought a remunerative price because of their appearance when 

 put on Chicago market." 



G-rain feeding lambs for market, J. A. Craig ( ~\Yisconsin Sta. 

 h'pt. 1896, pp. 17-52, pis. 6). — The author reports an experiment with 2 

 lots of lambs to compare feeding grain from birth and feeding it during 

 the fattening period. He quotes the results of previous work at the 

 station reported in Bulletin 41 (E. S. R., G, p. 061). From all the 

 experiments general deductions are drawn. The present test lasted 2G 

 weeks. Lot 1 (4 lambs), fed grain from birth, weighed on an average 

 9G.3 lbs. at the beginning of the test and gained 3.8 lbs. per week. 

 Lot 2 (4 lambs), fed grain during the fattening period, weighed 88 lbs. 

 at the beginning of the test and gained 3.44 lbs. per week. The grain 

 consisted of a mixture of oats, corn, and linseed meal. 



Among the conclusions drawn from this and previous experiments 

 are the following: The greatest gains were made when lambs were fed 

 grain before weaning. The rate of gain in the period alter weaning 

 was less than in any other period, though the cost of a pound of gain 

 was less than during the third or fattening period. When lambs were 

 fed grain after weaning they ate less when at pasture; one-half pound 

 of grain per head daily was the greatest amount it was found profitable 

 to feed. The feeding of such grains as oats, bran, or linseed meal and 

 corn meal before and after weaning did not influence the rate or cost of 

 gain to any appreciable extent during the 3 months of winter fattening 

 when the lambs were being prepared for the early spring market. 

 Feeding grain continuously from birth until the lambs were about 10 

 months old did not produce any noticeable difference in the relative 

 amount of fat and lean, though the carcasses were somewhat heavier 

 than when no grain had been fed previous to the fattening period. 

 The lambs fed grain continuously from birth until 10 months old gave 

 a heavier fleece of washed and unwashed wool and the fleece contained 

 more oil than when grain was fed only during the fattening period. 

 Continuous grain feeding materially influenced the early maturity of 

 the lambs. In all the trials the lambs fed grain from birth weighed as 

 much several weeks before the end of the test as the others at the close. 



