124 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



BO far as to say that sheep are kept at loss, etc., and yet we find a good 

 profit as a result of the feeding at our station. 



Second, As a rule, those pens which received com alone, or as a con- 

 siderable part of the grain ration, made better gains and made them more 

 economically than other rations. 



Third, Where roots were fed in the ration, more economical gains were 

 secured as a general thing than where they were not fed. 



And just here we believe is a valuable suggestion to us as sheep owners 

 in the United States. We find that earlier in the history of sheep raising 

 in the United States little or no roots or succulent food was fed during 

 the winter season. And we find many who make no provision for such 

 feeding now. Yet we find in England, the home, we might say, of mut- 

 ton sheep, they depend largely upon succulent food for the ration of the 

 sheep. When we come to import these large mutton breeds to this 

 country, sheep which have become accustomed for years to a diet chiefly 

 of roots, and confine them on dry feed, it is no wonder we do not do better 

 with them. We must fully appreciate the fact and change our method 

 of feeding somewhat if we ever hope to compete with England as a mut- 

 ton producing country. 



SUBSTITUTES FOR CLOVER HAY. 



While perhaps nothing is quite so good as well cured clover hay for 

 fattening lambs, yet if we do not have but a small quantity or none at all 

 of this, it is possible to secure good results without it by using other 

 coarse fodders, such as millet hay, corn stalks, oat straw and bean straw. 



DISCUSSION. 



Q: What about the corn and roots? 



Mr. Mumford: I may say in regard to that point that it was a test. 

 The effort in that experiment was to test the relative values of roots and 

 silage and the grain ration. A great amount of silage and roots was fed, 

 and not so heavy a grain ration. 



Q : There are a great many kinds of roots, and you have not spoken of 

 any particular kind. 



Mr. Mumford: Well, in regard to the kinds of roots, there is very 

 little difference in regard to their feeding value, but as a rule we have 

 fed mangolds at the College, and I have fed rutabagas. 



Q: Did you ever try an experiment with carrots? 



Mr. Mumford: No, sir; but I believe they would be equally, if not 

 more, valuable for feeding. 



Q: I would like to know what price you fix on the roots? 



Mr. Mumford: Two dollars and a half a ton. 



Q: Do you feed whole grain entirely? 



Mr. Mumford : Yes, sir. 



Q: I would like to ask what was the difference in cost between wheat 

 and corn? 



Mr. Mumford: Wheat was 60 cents a bushel, and the corn was 10 

 cents. With wheat alone, it costs seven cents a pound to produce a 

 rpound of gaifU, and with corn a little over five cents. 



