354 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



rangements. Roots and silage have been compared for fattening 

 wether lambs without any marked difference in their value becom- 

 ing apparent. If there is any, the rate of gain is in favor of the roots, 

 and the cost of gain is favorable to the silage. 



Grain. This is assuredly the most fattening farm food that 

 may be fed to sheep. In relying on it alone, however, there is much 

 difficulty in maintaining the appetites of the sheep and in prevent- 

 ing disorders and deaths. Corn, roots, and hay were fed in a ration 

 at the Michigan Station against different rations, and the corn ration 

 gave a weekly gain per head of 2.6 pounds, which was only equaled 

 by a mixture of corn and oats. Corn and hay were fed for fifteen 

 weeks in trials conducted at the Michigan Station. The 10 wether 

 lambs ate 1,579 pounds of corn and 1,095 pounds of hay and gained 

 a total of 328 pounds, giving a profit of 59 cents per head. At the 

 Wisconsin Station 5 wether lambs ate in eight weeks 427.75 pounds 

 of corn and 288.5 pounds of hay and gained 104.5 pounds, giving a 

 profit of 87 cents per head. Cracked. corn and hay were fed at the 

 Minnesota Station to 10 wether lambs weighing 710 pounds, and in 

 twelve weeks they ate 1,103 pounds of corn and 849 pounds of hay 

 and gained 211 pounds, or an average weekly gain per head of 1.75 

 pounds. This ration returned a profit of 44 cents per head. 



In beginning to fatten wether lambs it is safe to feed oats. The 

 lambs like them and they will begin to eat them at once. Fed alone, 

 however, they do not produce as great a gain as corn. Hence, as 

 the fattening proceeds, the quantity of oats should be gradually de- 

 creased. At the Ontario Station 4 wether lambs were fed for fifteen 

 weeks on oats, hay, and roots and gained 156 pounds, or a weekly 

 increase of 2.6 pounds per head. At the Michigan Station 10 lambs 

 fed for seventeen weeks on oats, hay, and roots gained 379 pounds, 

 or a weekly average per head of 2.2 pounds. At average prices there 

 was no profit in either case. Oats and Swedish turnips were fed to 5 

 wether iambs weighing 548 pounds at Rothamsted, England, for 

 ninety-seven days. The lambs gained 130.9 pounds, or an average 

 weekly increase of 1.9 pounds per head, giving a profit of only 3 

 cents per head. 



The results of many trials declare corn to be the most profitable 

 grain for fattening sheep. But practice teaches that other grains 

 must be fed with it to maintain the appetites of the sheep and keep 

 them otherwise healthy. It will likely be safest and best under most 

 conditions to start the fattening with oats or bran, then introduce as 

 much corn as possible, and finish the fattening with a mixture con- 

 taining one part oats, one part oil meal, and three parts corn by 

 weight. The data given in the trials described will indicate what 

 the advantage may be in using other foods under special circum- 

 stances. 



In the beginning to fatten wether lambs it is safe to feed oats. 

 The lambs like them and they will begin to eat them at once. Fed 

 alone, however, they do not produce as great a gain as corn. Hence, 

 as the fattening proceeds, tne quantity of oats should be gradually 

 decreased. Crushed oats were fed in feeding trials at Woburn, Eng- 



