380 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Digestion experiments with sheep, J. B. Lixdsey {Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 

 1900, J) J). 50-51). — The digestibility of a number of feeding stuffs was tested with 

 sheep. These include hay (largely June grasses), meadow fescue, Kentucky tall oat 

 grass, distillery grains (5 sorts), oat feed, rye feed, Cleveland flax meal, and Parsons's 

 Six-Dollar feed. A number of the coefficients of digestibility follow: 



DigestlhUity of a number of feeding stuffs by sheep. 



Kind of feed stuff. 



Hay, largely June grass in bloom {Poa 



pratensis) - - - 



Meadow fescue, full bloom (Festuca 



elatior pratensis) 



Kentucky blue grass, full bloom (Poa 



p7-atensis) 



Tall oat grass, late bloom [Arrtienathe- 



rum elntius) 



Oat feed (large amount hulls) 



Kve feed 



Chop feed 



Cleveland flax meal 



Parsons's Six-Dollar feed 



Dry 

 matter. 



Protein. 



Per cod. 

 59 



61 



Per cent. 

 61 



Fat. 



Per cent. 

 47 



54 



4-2 



56 

 92 

 90 

 82 

 76 

 81 



Xitrogen- 

 free ex- 

 tract. 



Per cent. 

 62 



59 



53 



58 

 33 

 88 

 84 

 94 

 64 



Fiber. 



Ash. 



Per cent. Per cent. 

 .57 48 





Experiments with pure-bred swine, G. E. D.\y ( Ontario Agr. (^>l. and E.rpt. Farm 

 Rpt. 1900, 2)p. 47, 48, figs. ,?). — Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 12, p. 374), the 

 relative gains made by different breeds of pigs was tested. Three animals in each lot 

 were fed corn and 3 barley. The test covered some 4 months. The greatest gain, 

 0.93 lb. per pig per day, was made by the Yorkshire, and the least, 6.42 lbs., by the 

 Tam worths. The Berkshires required the least meal per pound of gain, namely, 

 4.09 lbs., being followed by the other breeds in the order mentioned: Yorkshire, 

 Duroc Jersey, Chester White, Tamworth, and Poland China, the latter requiring 

 4.74 lbs. The pigs were sold for export, their suitability for this purpose being judged 

 by an expert. The Yorkshires were reported as the most suitable for the purpose. 



Corn vs. barley for feeding hogs, G. E. D.vy ( Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm 

 Rpt. 1900, pp. 4S, 49). — The comparative merits of corn and barley in the above test 

 are discussed at some length. Each of these grains was fed with wheat middlings, at 

 first in the proportion of 3:1, and later 1:1 and 1:3. Owing to the fact that 3 each 

 of the Chester Whites and Tam worths were not in good condition, the results obtained 

 with these breeds are not included. In 140 days the average daily gain by 12 pigs on 

 corn and middlings was 0.817 lb., the meal consumed per pound of gain being 0.432 

 lb. The average daily gain per pig of 12 pigs fed on barley and middlings for the 

 same period was 0.841 lb., and the meal consumed j^er pound of gain was 0.43 lb. 



"In this experiment, therefore, the mixture of barley and middlings gave slightly 

 better results in producing gain in weight than the mixture of corn and middlings. 

 The difference, however, is very small, and the two foods might almost be pronounced 

 equal in feeding value so far as this experiment goes." 



Experiments with grade swine, G. E. Day (Ontario Agr. (^'ol.and E.rpt. Farm 

 Rpt. 1900,2^.50). — The comparative value of barley alone and in combination was 

 tested with 5 lots of 5 pigs each, the special object being to determine the effect of 

 barlej' upon the firmness of bacon. The test covered 120 days. On barley alone 

 the average daily gain per pig was 0. 789 lb. , and the meal consumed per pound of 

 gain, 4.58 lbs. On barley and corn (1:1), the corresponding amounts were 0.762 and 

 4. 78 lbs. ; and on barley and oats (1:1), 0.645 and 5.26 lbs. On Ijarley and cooked man- 

 gel-wurzels (1:1) the daily gain per pig was 0.850, the meal and roots consumed i)er 

 pound of gain being 3.97 and 3.61 lbs., resjjectively. On barley and raw mangel-wur- 

 zels the average daily gain was 0.807 and the meal and roots consumed per pound of 

 gain 4.23 and 3.74 lbs., respectively. 



