70 



EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Vol. 41 



gains were only slightly decreased. " Until the end of the third month the 

 calves receiving cottonseed meal had gained more than any other lot and showed 

 as much finish, but from that time on cottonseed meal did not seem to stimulate 

 the appetite as did linseed meal with tlie result that they would not eat as 

 much feed and could not make the gains." 



A lot receiving no silage, but nearly doubling the alfalfa consumption of the 

 check lot, made the least profit per calf of any lot, due partly to the difference 

 in prices charged for alfalfa and silage, and partly to lower gains. A lot re- 

 ceiving neither silage nor supplement but over twice the check ration of alfalfa 

 made the slowest gains of any lot and next to the lowest profits. 



The utilization of Yucca for the maintenance of cattle, J. M. Jones and 

 A. B. Conner (Texas Sta. Btil. 2^0 {1918), pp. 5-23, figs. 9).— This bulletin in- 

 cludes descriptions of nine species of plants of the Yucca family occurring on 

 the southwestern cattle ranges in large enough numbers to be of importance 

 as emergency feed for cattle, proximate chemical analyses made at the Texas 

 and New Mexico Stations of the heads, stems, leaves, etc., of soapweed (Y. 

 elata), Spanish dagger {Y. macrocarpa) , bear grass (Y. glaitca), and sotol 

 {DasyUrion sp.), statements as to successful methods of cutting and feeding 

 the material, particularly those developed on the Jornada Range Reserve (E. S. 

 R., 40, p. 471), and a reprint of a press bulletin account of feeding experiments 

 with Yucca and sotol at the New Mexico Station, since reported in greater detail 

 (E. S. R., 40, p. 277). 



Sheep feeding. — VIII, Fattening western lambs, 1917—18, J. H. Skinner 

 and C. G. Starr {Indiana Sta. Bui. 221 (1918), pp. 20; popular cd., pp. 7, fig. 1).— 

 To study (1) the effect of shearing lambs a short time before marketing, (2) 

 the possibility of confining grain feeding to the end of the fattening period, 

 (3) the use of hominy feed as a substitute for corn, and (4) the value of lin- 

 seed meal as a protein supplement, as well as to secure data in addition to 

 those reported in the preceding number of this series (E. S. R., 38, p. 670) on 

 soy beans as a protein supplement, and the effect of restricting the dry rough- 

 age and increasing the silage, 7 lots of 25 lambs and one of 24 lambs were fed 

 for 90 days beginning October 28, 1917. The check lot received shelled corn 

 and cottonseed meal (7:1), with corn silage and clover hay twice daily, and 

 was sold unshorn. The modifications of this treatment accorded the other lots 

 and the more important results secured are shown in the following table. Grain 

 and supplement were fed mixed in the same proportions to all except the lot 

 with initial no-grain period which always received its cottonseed meal (0.25 

 lb. per head per day) with the silage. During the first few days all the lambs, 

 barring those in the last named lot, were given a certain amount of oats, total- 

 ing about 11 lbs. per head, to accustom them to grain feeding. 



Results of a 90-day lamh feeding trial. 



Lot. 



Variation in treatment. 



Initial 



weiglit 



per 



head. 



Average 

 daily 



gain per 

 head. 



Feed consumed per pound of 

 gain. 



Supple- 

 ment. 



Silage. 



Hav. 



Profit 



or loss 



per 



head. 



Check lot 



Clipped after 7.') days 



Hominy teed in place of com 



No grain first 40 days 



Linseed meal as supplement 



Ground soy beans as supplement 



Hay first 3 weeks only 



Hay every fifth day 



Lhs. 

 .55.9 

 56.2 

 .56. 

 .56. 

 56. 3 

 .56. 2 

 56. 

 56.0 



Lh. 



0.281 

 .2,38 

 .281 

 .278 

 .283 

 .280 

 .231 

 .260 



Lhs. 

 2.97 

 .3. 51 

 2.93 

 2.45 

 2.94 

 2.97 

 3.61 

 3.21 



Lh. 



0..52 

 .62 

 .52 

 .81 

 .52 

 .,52 

 .64 

 ..57 



Lhs. 

 ,5.48 

 6.27 

 5.20 

 6.34 

 5.38 

 5.52 

 8.59 

 7.15 



Lhs. 

 2.28 

 2.70 

 2.27 

 2.69 

 2.26 

 2.29 

 .86 

 1.24 



+10. 10 

 - 1.19 



