98 BULLETIN NO. 53, 



while the total cost of the gain put upon the wethers was $i . 54, a 

 difference of 56 cents in favor of the lambs. When we consider that 

 the lambs gained 3^2 pounds more than the wethers this difference 

 in cost is quite an important one. 



THE CLOVER WASTE. 



It should not be overlooked, perhaps, that in extensive feeding 

 there is considerable waste on the roughage fed. As stated in anothei 

 place considerable of the clover fed to these sheep was the first crop. 

 A good deal of it was the first crop after seeding and contained a 

 large amount of old stubble. This would tend to increase the 

 waste as compared to feeding the clover from the second year's 

 meadow. The waste from the wethers was close to 20 per cent of 

 the amount of hay given, and for the lambs it was about 30 per 

 cent of the amount of hay given. It would seem that practicably 

 this waste should be charged to the sheep. However, the most of 

 this was fed to cattle and horses, so that it was not lost, but had 

 a feeding value for other stock which were being carried over and 

 not fattened. In fattening sheep and somewhat forcing the appetite 

 there is sure to be a certain amount of waste, but where it is used 

 for feeding cattle we have not felt that it was necessary to charge 

 this waste against the sheep. However, those who desire to do so 

 can increase the cost of the hay by the figures given. 



FINANCIAL RESULTS WITH WETHERS. 



Table No. 6 gives a summary of the financial results in feeding 

 wethers. This table shows the essential facts given in the previous 

 tables, but arranged in a different way. This table will repay care- 

 ful study. It will be noticed that the wethers cost 2.y\ cents per 

 pound when purchased, or put into the feed lots. If sold at 4 cents 

 per pound, which was about the price paid in Bozeman, they would 

 return a profit on the feeding of $158.73, or a profit on each wether 

 of $1.32. The cost of the 120 wethers was $323.75. The cost of 

 the feed at the price given was $185.28, which made a total cost of 

 the fattened wethers of $509.03. The price received for the 

 wethers at 4 cents per pound would be $667.6, the difference 

 as given above represents the profit on the feed and pay for the 

 labor. The largest amount of profit on each wether was on the 



