12 



N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Bulletin 152 



carried through the winter upon clover and native hay, when 

 fed practically alone, and make at the same time substantial 

 and profitable gains. It is true that with the clover hay fairly 

 good increases in weight were obtained, yet that these gains 

 were as economically made as though grain were fed in connection 

 with the ration, is to be doubted. Since this experiment pro- 

 vides no direct evidence wherefrom comparisons in this respect 

 may be drawn, as the lambs, which were fed grain, naturally 

 would make greater gains anyway than the aged sheep, yet the 

 relative cost of grain and hay in New Hampshire affords sufficient 

 data for fairly accurate deductions. The cost of all classes of hay, 

 except clover, in this state in 1909 was approximately a cent a 

 pound ($20 per ton) and of grain, such as is used for sheep, on an 

 average about a cent and a half a pound. The relative difference 

 in price is exceedingly small, when account is taken of the 

 greater increases in weight it is recognized grain will produce. 



Therefore, in New Hampshire, from the standpoint of economy, 

 unless the prevailing prices of feeds completely change, the plan 

 of attempting to winter sheep on hay alone, especially with 

 lambs and pregnant ewes, should never be practised. 



Turnips were fed in conjunction with all the rations to provide 

 succulence and to give to the feed a laxative tone. 



TABLE 8 DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS AND NUTRITIVE RATIOS OF RATIONS." 



* Digestible coefficients were obtained from Henry's "Feeds and Feeding." 



The nutritive ratios, shown in Table 8, clearly indicate the 

 difference between clover and native hay in the amounts of 

 digestible nutrients they contain The native hay is exceed- 

 ingly low in digestible protein, and comparatively high in digesti- 



