ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 797 



the test as a whole, the wethers consumed 2 lbs. of grain and 1.5 l])s. of coarse fodder 

 per head per day, and the lambs on an average 1.5 lbs. of grain and 1 lb. of coarse 

 fodder. At the beginning of the trial the wethers weighed on an average 100.8 lbs. 

 and the lambs 66.4 lbs. The average daily gain of the wethers was 0.24 lb. and of 

 the lambs 0.23 lb., in the latter case the amounts ranging from 0.2 with lot 5 to 0.24 

 with lots 3 and 4. In the case of the wethers the cost of a pound of gain was 4.99 

 cts. and in the case of the lambs the amount varied from 3.6 cts. with the Oxford 

 grades to 4.07 cts. with the Merino grades, averaging 3.81 cts. The average i)rofit 

 per lamb was 38 cts. and per wether 3 cts. The fact is pointed out that although 

 the wethers consumed 40 per cent more feed than the lambs their increase in weight 

 was but 3.4 i)er cent greater. According to the author, while the <lifference in rela- 

 tive adaptability for fattening of the lambs of the different lots "was not very great, 

 it was the lowest in the lambs of the Merino grades." 



In the second test the value of a ration of corn and bran with and witlujut oats was 

 tested with 16 Dorset lambs divided into 2 equal lots, the lambs in the 2 lots weigh- 

 ing respectively 90 lbs. and 88 lbs. each. The test covered 3 periods of 28 days. 

 Tliroughout the test lot 1 was fed bran and corn in different mixtures, and lot 2 bran, 

 corn, and oats, both lots receiving clover hay in addition. The average amount of 

 grain eaten per head daily by all the lambs in both lots was 1.5 lbs. and the hay 0.8 

 lb. The average daily gain per head of the lambs fed bran and corn was 0.1, and of 

 those fed oats in addition 1.5 lbs., the cost of a pound of gain in the 2 cases being 

 8.62 and 6.28 cts. At the close of the test the lambs were sold for slaughter, the 

 net profit per lamb in the 2 lots being §1.83 and $1.97, respectively. As pointed out 

 by the author, the lambs fed oats in addition to corn and bran gained 36 per cent 

 more in weight during the test than the others, although they consumed practically 

 the same amount of feed. The profit on these lambs was also greater, although their 

 ration was somewhat more expensive. The conclusion is therefore drawn that "with 

 prices in reasonable balance, bran, corn, oats, and hay make a more satisfactory 

 ration for lambs that are being fattened than bran, corn, and hay." 



Sixteen Dorset grade lambs, divided into 2 equal lots, were used for the third test, 

 which was undertaken to study the comparative merits of well-balanced and badly 

 balanced rations. The test was divided into 3 periods of 4 weeks each. The grain 

 ration of lot 1 consisted of unground corn and bran, and that of lot 2 of unground 

 corn, oats and barley, and bran, the proportion in each case varying in the different 

 periods. Both lots were fed corn fodder, and in addition lot 2 was fed sliced mangel- 

 wurzels and carrots on alternate days. At the beginning of the trial the average 

 weight of the lambs in the 2 lots was 93 and 96.9 lbs., respectively. The average 

 daily gain of the lambs in lot 1 w^as 14.8 lbs. and of those in lot 2 (fed the better bal- 

 anced ration), 25.1 lbs., the cost of a pound of gain being 7.17 cts. and 6.92 cts., 

 respectively. On an average the lambs in lot 1 ate 1.9 lbs. of grain and 1.8 lbs. of 

 corn fodder per head per day, while those in lot 2 ate 2.1 lbs. of grain, 1.7 lbs. of corn 

 fodder, and 4.9 lbs. of roots. Shortly after the test the lambs were slaughtered, the 

 average net profit in the 2 lots being 34 cts. and 49 cts., respectively. The author 

 believes that "the finished product resulting from feeding mixed grain and roots was 

 superior to that from feeding corn and bran without roots. A diet of grains with 

 roots added, notwithstanding its greater cost, may be more economical when fatten- 

 ing lambs than a diet more restricted as to the grain factors composing it, in spite 

 of the greater relative cheapness of the latter. 



"In this experiment the ration composed of bran, corn, oats and barley, field roots 

 and corn fodder, was more satisfactory than one composed of l^ran, corn, and corn 

 fodder only." 



Hand-feeding sheep, F. B. Guthrie (Ayr. Gaz. New South. Wales, IS {1902), Xo. 

 10, pp. 1049-1051) .—Dei&\\ex\ statements are made concerning the rations fed to 

 ewes, rams, and lambs during the recent local drought, and concerning the cost of 

 feeding. 



