ANIMAL PEODUCTION. 677 



daily 2.9 lbs. clover and 0.5() 11). {rrain. The corresponding amounts for lot 2 were 

 2.94 lb. clover and 0.55 lb. screenings, while lot 3 consumed 3.32 lbs. clover. The 

 cost of food per pound of gain in the 3 lots was 4.34, 3.34, and 3.53 cts., respectively. 

 The author's conclusion follows: "It is best to use some grain along with alfalfa or 

 clover in preparing lambs for shipping; a large amount is not necessary because of 

 the quality of our coarse foods. Not more than one-half pound of grain per day 

 throughout a feeding period of 90 days, or the equivalent of this if fed only through- 

 out the latter portion of the period. This will of course only apply in those cases 

 where INIontana-grown legumes are used as roughage. Where first-class marketable 

 grains are used it makes the ration too expensive. Good results can be secured from 

 screenings or from cheap or imsalable grains." 



The comparative value of clover hay and hay from mixed grains (spring wheat, 

 barley, oats, and peas sown in equal amounts) was tested with 2 lots of 53 lambs 

 each. In the 60 days of the test the lambs fed clover hay gained on an average 14 

 lbs., those fed the mixed hay 10.68 lbs.; the cost of food per pound of gain in the 2 

 lots being 3.63 and 4.6 cts., respectively. Greater and more economical gains were 

 made on clover than on hay from cereal grains and peas. The author notes that 

 while the results "represent in a practical way the comparative feeding values of 

 clover and grain hay for fattening lambs, still, they may not represent accurately 

 their relative food values for other classes of stock or from a standpoint of composi- 

 tion. While horses and cattle consume these readily there was much waste from 

 the lambs, consisting of grain stems and vines of peas. The results from the use of 

 the grain hay fell far below our expectations." 



The effect of water supply during fattening was tested with 17 lambs fed clover 

 hay, and screenings. They were given water once a day and were compared with 

 lot 2 in the test noted above, receiving a similar ration but having access at all times 

 to water. The average gain made by the lambs receiving a limited amount of water 

 was 21.47 lbs., the cost of pound of gain being 4.51 cts. These lambs consumed per 

 head daily on an average 3.08 lbs. clover and 0.55 lb. screenings. As pointed out 

 by the author, smaller and less economical gains were made when the water supply 

 w'as limited than was the case with the lot receiving an abundance of water. All the 

 lambs used in the 3 tests were sold for slaughter, yielding a net profit of 30 cts. per 

 head. 



Sheep-feeding experiments in Nebraska (second experiment), E. A. Bur- 

 nett {Nebraska Sta. Bui. 71., pp. 16). — Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 12, p. 

 875) alfalfa hay and sorghum hay were compared with seven lots of 12 lambs each 

 and three lots of 14. Lots 1 to 6 were fed corn alone or combined with oats or bran 

 in different proportion in addition to alfalfa hay; lots 1 to 3 having shelter and lots 

 4 to 6 having no shelter. Lots 7 to 9 were fed corn alone, or with oats or bran with 

 sorghum hay in addition. These lots and lot 10, which was fed corn and linseed 

 meal in addition to sorghum hay, had no shelter. After some preliminary feeding 

 with most of the lambs, the test proper covered 14 weeks. The average gain of the 

 lambs in the lots fed alfalfa hay was 33.7 lbs. Of those fed sorghum hay and corn 

 alone or with oats or bran, 20.7 lbs. The average gain of the lot fed sorghum hay, 

 corn, and linseed meal was 26.7 lbs. 



The profit per lamb on alfalfa hay was 72 cts. per head and on sorghum 32.8, 

 Lot 1, fed on shelled corn and hay, made the largest total gain, 36.3 lbs. per lamb, 

 an3 the cheapest gain (costing 3.25 cts. per pound), and ate the least food per 

 pound of gain, namely, 3.53 lbs. of grain and 4.54 lbs. of hay. Lot 9, fed shelled 

 corn, wheat bran, and sorghum hay, made the smallest gain, 18.4 lbs. per lamb, at 

 the greatest cost per pound of gain, 5.7 cts. The largest amount of feed per pound 

 of gain (6.99 lbs. of grain and 8.96 lbs. of hay) was eaten by lot 8, fed shelled 

 corn, oats, and sorghum hay. The author notes that some of the lambs might have 

 been jirofitably marketed before the close of the test, as they became too heavy for 

 profitable feeding. 



