480 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Lansing the following October was 908 pounds. It would have been 

 much better if these cattle could have been purchased and put on grass 

 at least four or five weeks earlier. As it was, however, the gains on 

 grass were excellent. 



SHEEP. 



The Station had 268 head of sheep including lambs July 1, 1917. Out 

 of this number 4 were sold, 10 were killed by dogs, 5 died and 11 were 

 unaccounted for. This left 238 head which were taken into winter 

 (quarters November 22, 1917. They were in excellent condition being 

 grazed about three weeks in a field where oats, barley and rutabagas 

 liad been harvested. 



CAR LOAD OF BE£T CATTLE ON PASTURE, 1917 



Breeding Season: 



Immediately after bringing the ewes into winter quarters, rams were 

 placed with them to take advantage of their flush condition. The first 

 forty of these grade ewes to drop lambs gave birth to 63 lambs, an in- 

 crease of 1571/2%. The remaining 101 ewes gave birth to 118 lambs, 

 an increase of 116.8%. It is thought that the decrease in the percentage 

 of lambs is due to the ewes being bred after they had been fed on clover 

 hay which lowered their flush condition. 



It is claimed that ewes, if bred while flushed will drop more twins. 

 Our experiment this year bears out this statement. 



Manageme^it of Rams: 



The rams were placed with the ewes from 8 :00 to 10 :00 in the morn- 

 ing. They were then moved to pens by themselves and fed liberally. 

 At 4:00 p. m. they were put back with the ewes and left until about 

 6:00 p. m., when they were again put by themselves and fed. It has 



