ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 271 



tested with 12 steers. The steers were fed loose and tied in stalls. The principal 

 deductions follow: " Dehorning /educed the weight of a 1,200 pound steer about 50 

 pounds. It required about two weeks' feeding to regain the weight lost. . . . 

 Dehorning is of no advantage when steers are tied up in stalls, except for the com- 

 fort it gives to those caring for them. The feeding of dehorned steers in a loose box 

 is an advantage (1) in increased gain in flesh; (2) less cost for labor in attending 

 them; (3) manure better made, requiring about 50 per cent more straw to keep them 

 clean, which may be an advantage or a disadvantage, according to the situation and 

 opinion of the feeder. ' ' 



The comparative merits of a medium and a heavy ration were tested with 2 lots of 

 steers. According to the author, "there did not appear to be any gain m flesh from 

 extra feeding," while the heavier ration was the more expensive. 



The effects of dehorning cattle were tested at the Brandon Experimental Farm 

 with 3 lots of 5 steers each. In 133 days the dehorned steers tied in stalls gained 950 

 lbs. ; those not tied gained 964 lbs. In the same time 5 steers which had not been 

 dehorned gained 968 lbs. ' ' The experiment, as a test of dehorning, was a very suc- 

 cessful one, and would lead us to the conclusion that dehorning has very little effect 

 on the animal either one way or the other." 



At the Indian Head Experimental Farm a dehorning experiment was made with 

 3 lots of 5 animals each, all weighing about 1,200 lbs. at the beginning of the trial. 

 They were fed a mixed ration for 16 weeks. The average gains follow: Steers, 

 dehorned, tied in stalls, 281 lbs. ; dehorned, not tied, 235 lbs. ; not dehorned, tied in 

 stalls, 234 lbs. 



Fattening: lambs on clover, with, and without grain, E. S. Shaw {Montana 

 Sta. Bui. 27, pp. 11-32). — The value of grain supplementing clover in feeding lambs 

 for market was studied with 60 lambs divided into 3 equal lots. After a preliminary 

 period lot 1 was fed on clover and damaged wheat, lot 2 on clover only, and lot 3 on 

 clover and oats. Lots 1 and 3 were also given some roots. The lambs weighed about 

 77 lbs. at the beginning of the test, which lasted 90 days. The average daily gain 

 of the three lots was 0.32, 0.27, and 0.35 lb. per head, respectively, the average cost 

 per pound of gain being 3.22, 3.54, and 4.39 cents. The lambs in lot 1 consumed 

 6.38 lbs. of clover and 2.8 lbs. of wheat per pound of gain; those in lot 2 consumed 

 11.8 lbs. of clover, while in lot 3 the amounts eaten were 6.10 lbs. clover and 2.65 lbs. 

 oats. The net profit per head for the 3 lots was 96, 82, and 62 cents, respectively. 



The results obtained in feeding 20 Shropshire lambs were compared with those 

 obtained under similar conditions in a previous test (E. S. R., 12, p. 72) with 16 

 Mermo grade lambs, the former being of the mutton type and the latter of the wool 

 type. The Shropshires in 10 months gained 10.58 lbs., consuming 6.10 lbs. of clover 

 and 2.64 lbs. of grain per pound of gain, while the Merinos in the same time gained 

 8.97 lbs., consuming 6.43 lbs. of clover and 2.64 lbs. of grain. The cost of food per 

 pound of gain in the two lots was 4.39 and 4.62 cts., respectively. Some of the 

 author's conclusions follow: 



"The less expensive grains can be profitably used along with clover in mutton pro- 

 duction. They will increase the gains and improve the quality. Grains at a high 

 price . . . render the cost of feeding too high unless used in yery small amounts." 



Sheep-feeding experiments at Mains of Airleywight, A. P. Aitken ( Trans. 

 Hujldaiid and A(jr. Soc. Scotland, 5. so:, 13 {1901), pp. 176-205). — The author reports 

 work undertaken by W. Hutcheson to supplement previous experiments (E. S. R., 12, 

 p. 173) regarding the comparative value of common feeding stuffs for sheep. The 

 test was begun with 7 lots of 20 sheep each. All the lots except number 7 were fed 

 a basal ration of turnips and hay. In addition lots 2 to 6 were given, respectively, 

 undecorticated cotton-seed cake, undecorticated cotton-seed cake and crushed maize, 

 crushed maize, dried distillery grains, and linseed cake. Lot 7 was fed turnips and 



8347— No. 3—01 6 



