Experiments in Fattening Sheep. 



459 



From this table we learn that eastern lambs gained 0.3 Ib. per head 

 daily, and required about 500 Ibs. of corn and 350 Ibs. of clover hay 

 for each 100 Ibs. of increase while fattening. Western range lambs 

 gained slightly more than 0.3 Ib. per head daily, and required about 

 425 Ibs. of corn and 500 Ibs. of alfalfa hay for 100 Ibs. increase. 

 This is about 75 Ibs. less corn and 150 Ibs. more hay for 100 Ibs. of 

 gain than eastern lambs required. (521-3) 



745. Corn alone and in combination. At the Wisconsin Station 1 

 Craig fed 3 lots, each of 5 high grade, 58-lb. Shropshire lambs, the 

 grain allowances shown below before and after weaning. The lambs 

 were fed all the grain they would eat morning and evening, and dur- 

 ing the day were with their dams on blue-grass pasture. 



Corn meal compared with grain mixtures 



It is shown that corn meal alone proved more economical before 

 \veaning than corn and oats or corn and peas, and of equal value 

 to these combinations after weaning. It is probable that corn will 

 force the largest and most economical gains with lambs both before 

 and after weaning, the protein required coming from the dam's milk 

 and pasture grass. It is not prudent, however, to use corn alone for 

 ewe lambs designed for the flock, since this grain builds fat rather 

 than bone and muscle. 



In feeding ground corn alone there is likely to be more sickness 

 among the lambs than if they have a mixed grain allowance. The 

 lambs that were fed grain continuously from birth sheared a heaviei 

 fleece of unwashed wool than either those receiving no grain pre- 

 vious to fattening or those not allowed grain until after weaning 

 This increased weight of fleece was due to the excess of yolk or 

 grease in the wool of the lambs fed grain from birth, as all fleeces 

 showed about the same weight of washed wool. 



1 Ept. 1897. 



