356 THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



mixture. Experiments indicate that this mixture is most 

 economical, especially if the lambs are to be fed later for 

 the market, when containing a generous proportion of 

 corn meal, to which may be added, among other mate- 

 rials, ground oats, wheat bran, gluten feed or meal, or oil 

 meal, reference being had to the ruling market prices. 

 In an experiment at the Maine Experiment Station, 

 lambs suckled by grain-fed mothers and with access to 

 grain themselves made 75 per cent or more gain in live 

 weight than those did that received no grain and which 

 were suckled by mothers that ate a limited grain ration. 

 Five and three-fourths pounds of grain produced one 

 pound of growth. At the Wisconsin Experiment Station, 

 as an average of three trials, lambs fed grain before wean- 

 ing gained in ten to twelve weeks seven and a half 

 pounds more each than those not so fed. Four pounds 

 of grain produced one pound of live weight. 



Liberal feeding means more economical growth, a 

 higher quality of product, and the earliest possible mar- 

 ket. The foregoing discussion is applicable to the rais- 

 ing of early lambs. If, however, they are dropped dur- 

 ing the grazing season where the ewes have abundant 

 pasturage, the question of feeding is simplified, for no 

 ration is more promotive of abundant milk secretion 

 than young grass; besides, the low price at which late 

 lambs are usually sold does not encourage extensive grain 

 feeding. When lambs are grown for breeding stock their 

 early grain rations should be lighter, and may properly 

 consist more largely of oats and bran, with a smaller 

 proportion of corn. 



453. Standards for growing sheep. For growing 

 sheep beyond the age of six months, Armsby has offered the 

 following standards, based on Kellner's production values : 



