FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTIOlSr, 



73 



of oats was afterwards increased and a little flaxseed and cracked peas 

 (pea screenings) added. In addition lot 1 was fed alsike hay; lot 2, 

 red clover hay; and lot 3, alfalfa hay. Both the alfalfa and red clover 

 hay were from second cuttings, and the alsike from the first cutting. 

 One of the lambs in lot 3 was dropped on account of l)loating. 

 . The test proper began January 2, 18i)8, and continued 84 days. 



The financial statement is based on oats at $1, pea screenings 50 cts., 

 flaxseed $1.50, and roots at 9 cts. per hundredweight, and hay at $6 

 per ton. The following table summarizes the residts of the tests: 



Alfalfa, red clover, and alsike hay for lainhs. 



" (1) With the great abundance of leguminous crops and the ease with which they 

 can be produced in Montana, we believe it would be of great advantage to the Mon- 

 tana fanner to fatten at least a few sheep each winter season. 



"(2) Under the very favorable climatic conditions the amount of food required 

 and cost of production per pound gain are relatively small. 



"(3) Careful comparison has shown that alsike, the red clovers, and alfalfa have 

 given results for feeding value in the order named. 



" (4) Food materials which would otherwise be wasted can be utilized with profit 

 where sheep are kept on the average farm." 



Slieep-feeding experiments, J. H. Stewart and H. Atwood 

 ( ITe'.S'^ Virginia Sta. Bui. 61^ pp. 67-75). — The usual practice in West 

 Virginia, according to the authors, is to market in the fall lam))s 

 raised for mutton. The possibility of profitable winter fattening of 

 lambs was tested in 2 trials. The first trial was made with 2 lots of 

 Southdown and Shropshire grade lambs and "natives, such as could 

 be found in an\^ section of the State," and 1 lot of native yearling- 

 wethers. Lot 1 (8 ewe lambs and 2 wethers) and lot 3 (5 yearling- 

 wethers) were fed a grain ration consisting- of ecjual parts of linseed 

 meal, wheat bran, and hominy feed. Lot 2 (8 ewe lambs and 2 weth- 

 ers) was fed whole corn. All 3 lots were fed, ad libitum^ mixed clover 

 and timothy hay which was not thought to be of extra quality. The 

 test covered 8 weeks. The average gain per lamb in the difierent 

 lots was 14.5, 15.4, and 8.8 lbs., respectively; and the cost of feed per 

 pound of gain was 4.9, 3.7, and 10.7 cts. The wether lambs gained on 

 an average 18.4 lbs., while the ewe lambs gained only 14.1 lbs. The 

 value of the manure is taken into account. 



