976 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



was fed. For the first 15 days the grain ration consisted of bran, oats, 

 and corn, 1:2:2. For the next 35 days the following- mixture was fed: 

 Linseed meal, bran, oats, and corn, 1:2:8:8. During the remainder of 

 the test the linseed meal was increased two-fifths. At the beginning 

 of the test the lambs ate 1 to 1£ lbs. of grain daily and at the close 

 from 1£ to 2i lbs. 



The financial statement is based on bran and oats at 35 cts., shelled 

 corn and hay at 20 cts., linseed meal at 90 els., roots at 5 cts., and 

 cabbage at 10 cts. per 100 lbs. 



The details of the experiment are given in tabular form. The results 

 are summarized in the following table: 



Results of feeding different breeds of lambs. 



■Including a little green clover. 



The ewe lambs were light eaters and made comparatively small gains, 

 but the cost of production was about the same as the average of the 

 wethers. 



"The marked increase in the cost of feed per pound of gain during the experiment 

 ■was apparently due to the fact that the ewe lambs took on fat rapidly and were 

 more nearly finished during the latter part of the period than the other lots. This 

 distinction between the sexes has been observed in all of the experiments made at 

 this station, including both cattle and sheep. On the market the ewes sold 5 cts. 

 higher than the wethers of the same breed, and in the slaughter test they dressed 

 1.67 per cent more net carcass. On the block they showed slightly more fat, but 

 their fine bone and plump, neat carcasses made them attractive and profitable. The 

 price put on them by the buyers clearly indicates that there is no discrimination 

 against ewe lambs, as there formerly was against the heifer. It should be mentioned 

 incidentally, however, that after the ewes are a year old they are not as desirable as 

 wethers, owing to the fact that the joints do not break as readily. Free clean 

 breaking of the front pastern is the test applied by meat dealers to distinguish 

 between a lamb and a sheep. One that breaks is a lamb ; one that does not is a 

 sheep, regardless of actual age." 



As regards gains made the relative rank of the breeds was the same 

 in this as in the preceding experiment. 



