FEEDS FOR SHEEP 559 



Beet and cane molasses were compared in a trial by Eward, Sharp, 

 and Culbertson at the Iowa Station, 30 different lots of lambs being fed 

 0.25 lb., 0.5 lb., and 0.7 Ib. beet or cane molasses per head daily. The mo- 

 lasses was poured on corn silage, and the lambs were fed in addition 

 shelled corn, clover hay, and enough linseed meal to balance the ration. 

 The beet molasses proved slightly superior to the cane molasses. It was 

 found that two-thirds to three-fourths pound of molasses was as much 

 as the lambs would take with the other feeds used. The molasses-fed 

 lots made more rapid gains than a check lot receiving no molasses and, 

 on the average, both cane and beet molasses were worth slightly more 

 than shelled corn a ton, considering the amount of feed required for 

 100 Ibs. gain. 



Molasses-alfalfa meal (consisting of half alfalfa meal and half mo- 

 lasses) was found to be worth, on the average, but little more than alfal- 

 fa hay per ton in 3 trials carried on by Savin at the Nebraska Sta- 

 tion, 31 when it was added to a ration of corn and alfalfa hay or one of 

 corn, alfalfa hay, and corn silage. (281) 



Millet seed, coarsely ground, was found by Wilson and H. G. Skinner 

 nearly equal to corn for fattening lambs when fed with mixed prairie 

 and brome hay in a trial at the South Dakota Station. 32 Sheep fed whole 

 millet voided a large percentage of the seed undigested. (243) 



855. Linseed meal and cottonseed meal. These protein-rich concen- 

 trates are the supplements most commonly used with fattening lambs or 

 sheep, for balancing rations low in protein. (250, 254) In 2 trials by 

 Morrison and Kleinheinz at the Wisconsin Station 33 with western lambs, 

 the value of these supplements was compared when added to a ration 

 of shelled corn and all the corn silage the lambs would eat, which made 

 a ration relatively low in protein. As cottonseed meal is slightly richer 

 in protein than linseed meal, a little less was needed to balance the 

 ration. Each winter one lot of 40 western lambs was fed a mixture of 1 

 part cottonseed meal (prime or choice) to 7 parts corn, while another lot 

 was fed 1 part linseed meal to 5 parts corn. Each year there was prac- 

 tically no difference in the gains of the 2 lots, in the amount of feed 

 required for 100 Ibs. gain, or in the finish of the lambs. Due to the fact 

 that it was necessary to use slightly less cottonseed meal than linseed 

 meal to balance the ration, the feed cost of 100 Ibs. gain was 13 cents 

 less where this supplement was fed. 



In trials during 3 years at the Indiana Station 34 by Skinner, Vestal, 

 and Starr, choice cottonseed meal and linseed meal were compared as 

 supplements to a ration of shelled corn, corn silage, and either clover 

 hay or oat straw, equal amounts of cottonseed meal and linseed meal 

 being used. When thus fed, the two supplements had practically the 



80 InformatIon to the authors. ^Wls. Bui. 275; unpublished data. 



"Information to the authors. "Ind. Buls. 221, 256. 



S. D. Bui. 86. 



