1076 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ewes 4 to 7 years old. 

 of the feeding trials: 



The following- table shows the average results 



Results of sheep-fattening experiments, 1896. 



1 One animal died in the early part of the experiment. 



The following conclusions were reached: The fattening period should 

 not extend beyond 40 days. Full value may be obtained for home 

 farm products by fattening sheep under conditions similar to those here 

 reported. — F. w. woll. 



Feeding experiments with chicks and capons, W. P. Wheeler 

 (New York State Sta. Bui 12(1, pp. 307-325, pi 1, figs. 2).— Tests were 

 made with chickens and capons to compare the value of whole and 

 ground grains as commonly fed. The principal test was begun with 2 

 lots of 22 chickens each. Lot 1 was fed finely ground grain, the basis 

 of the ration being a mixture of corn meal, wheat bran, wheat mid- 

 dlings, old-process linseed meal, and oats, 2:2:1:1:1. This was supple- 

 mented by skim milk, dried blood, and additional amounts of corn meal 

 and ground oats. Lot 2 was fed either whole or cracked oats, wheat, 

 corn, and barley. In addition some skim milk, fresh-cut bone, and 

 dried blood were fed. The average nutritive ratio for lot 1 was 1 :3.3, 

 and for lot 2, 1:1.6. 



The composition of the food is reported. 



The chickens were hatched in incubators and kept in outdoor lamp 

 brooders surrounded by a small grass run. The test began as soon as 

 the chickens were hatched and covered 92 days. During the whole 

 period both lots made satisfactory growth and remained healtliy. 

 Lot 1 consumed 4.51} lbs. and lot 2 4.4 lbs. of dry matter per pound of 

 gain. The cost of food per pound of gain for the 2 lots was 3.33 cts. 

 and 3.76 cts., respectively If heating the brooders is taken into 

 account also the cost was 3.98 cts. and 4.5 cts. At the end of 12 weeks 

 the average weight of the chickens in lot 1 was 2.9 lbs. ; in lot 2, 2.6 lbs., 

 and the average cost per chicken 15.3 cts. and 15 cts., respectively. 



The time required to reach 1 lb. weight by lot 1 was 6 weeks, and by 

 lot 2, 7 weeks; the time required to reach 2 lbs. weight was 10 weeks 

 and 10J weeks, respectively. The cost for the 2 lots of food per chicken 

 to weight of 1 lb. was 3 cts. and 3.7 cts.; to weight of 1.5 lbs., 4.9 cts. 



