602 Fe^da and Feeding, 



In the first trial, where sugar beets were fed in opposition to 

 com silage, roots gave somewhat better results, while in the sec- 

 ond, where ruta-bagas were fed, the results were slightly in favor 

 of the corn silage. Until further trials we may consider roots 

 and corn silage practically equal in feeding value for fattening 

 lambs. Feeding roots or silage cut down the amount of grain 

 required in fattening the lambs 25 to 40 per cent. (325, 393-5) 



766. Sugar beets. — At the Michigan Station, ^ Mumford fed 

 sugar beets and hay only to lots of ten lambs each for 91 days, 

 with the following results: 



Feeding sugar beets and hay to faUening lambs — Michigan 



Station. 



Pounds. 



Beetafed 6,685 



Hay fed 1,181 



Average weight at beginning 84 



Total gain 116 



Average daily gain .13 



Feed for 100 pounds of gain — 



Roots 4,900 



Hay 1,018 



We observe that the lambs made only half the usual daily gain 

 when a full allowance of grain waa given. Placing a value on 

 roots proportionate to cost of production, we find that the use 

 of roots without grain for lambs cannot be recommended, since 

 root feeding is more expensive than a combination of roots and 

 grain. (3 9; 



767. Rape. — At the Ontario Agricultural College,' Shaw di 

 vided a field of rape into three plats of an acre each, by means 

 of hurdle fences, and placed fifteen lambs on each acre. To the 

 lambs on the first acre no additional feed was given; those on the 

 second received half a pound of oats each daily; those on the 

 third were allowed an adjoining pasture, thus being provided 

 with rape and grass at the same time. The acre of rape lasted 

 the fifteen lambs fifty-eight days in each instance, though the 



' Bui. 128. 

 » Rept. 189L 



