Jan., 1911] FEEDING SHEEP AND LAMBS. 5 



QBJECT. 



It is the purpose of this bulletin to present, in as clear and 

 concise fashion as possible, the results of feeding tests, that were 

 pursued during 1909-10, to discover the relative feeding values 

 for sheep of, 



1. Clover hay versus the ordinary hay mixture, designated 

 native hay, that is grown all too prevalently in New Hampshire 



2. Turnips in conjunction with grain and hay versus dry 

 ration of grain and hay only. 



FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 



Feeding was carefully prosecuted in every instance. Regu- 

 larity was a factor to which strict attention was paid. The 

 sheep were fed twice a day, in the morning at 7 and at 4.30 in 

 the afternoon. The rations were always weighed out accurately 

 at every meal. They had access to water and salt, the latter 

 being supplied in the rock form, at all times of the day. An 

 abundance of bedding was provided and, to minimize the possi- 

 bility of an outbreak of disease, the buildings were kept well 

 disinfected. Large yards were connected with the barn, so that 

 the sheep were able to take plenty of exercise. During the 

 experiment the sheep were all healthy and vigorous. 



Both feeding tests were of ninety-eight days' duration. Care- 

 ful weighings of the individual sheep were made every two 

 weeks, and accurate records of the rate of gain kept. Varia- 

 tions in the time of weighing and the normal condition of the 

 sheep at that time were strictly avoided. Before commencing 

 the experiments the sheep were given a preliminary feeding of 

 two weeks to accustom them to the feeds forming their rations. 



CLOVER HAY VERSUS NATIVE HAY. 



Outline of Experiment. 



Four lots of sheep were used, five in each lot. Two lots 

 comprised ewe lambs; the others, two to three-year-old ewes. 

 The lambs all belonged to some mutton breed, namely, Hamp- 

 shire, Southdown, Dorset Horn and Shropshire, there being an 

 equal number of specimens of the different breeds in both lots. 

 The aged ewes were Rambouillets and Natives, the latter repre- 

 senting the ordinary grade stock in New Hampshire. None 

 of them were with lamb. 



Both lots of lambs were fed an equal quantity of grain of a 

 similar character (corn, bran and oats in equal parts by weight) 

 and of turnips. In addition one lot was given clover hay; the 

 other, an equal quantity of native hay. With the aged ewes 

 the same plan was followed except that the hay composed the 

 bulk of the ration, turnips only being fed besides. 



