DIGEST 



Fitting live stock and showing at fairs demonstrates the possibili- 

 ties in well bred and well selected animals when brought to the high- 

 est condition by proper feeding and fitting. Showing superior animals 

 is the best kind of advertising a stockman can employ. Pages 3 to 5. 

 Careful selection of the wethers to be fitted is the foundation upon 

 which all the work of feeding and fitting depends. . The individuals for 

 the show ring should be rigidly selected from the offspring of choice 

 ewes of good breeding and milking qualities mated to rams of pro- 

 nounced merit. Pages 6 to 7. 



Feeding for the show must begin early and at no time should there 

 be a lack of suitable feed and pasture to keep the sheep growing and 

 thrifty. Care is necessary in getting them properly started on feed. 

 The wethers should be kept gaining gradually and never crowded. 



Page 7. 



The value of various grain rations for fitting yearling wethers was 

 studied at this Station in experiments covering two periods of three 

 years each, the wethers being shown at the International Live Stock 

 Exposition and judged both on foot and on the block. During the sec- 

 ond of the two year periods bran was added to the grain rations to 

 lessen the difficulty of keeping the wethers on feed. The wethers were 

 kept on grass pasture without additional feed from about May 20 to 

 August 1, when grain feeding began. Until November 1 they were 

 turned to pasture every day the weather permitted. The roughage fed 

 during the trial, in addition to pasture, consisted of hay, cabbage, and 

 roots. Pages 8 to 20. 



The wethers fed peas, oats, and bran were awarded first place in 

 the carcass competition between the various loss each of the three years 

 of the second period, and were also awarded the largest number of in- 

 dividual prizes at the show. Though peas were comparatively expen- 

 sive, they produced firm flesh of high quality and also made good gains. 

 They are therefore highly recommended for show fitting when fed in 

 combination with oats and bran. Page 15. 



Barley, oats, and bran ranked second in the carcass competition be- 

 tween the lots, and also in number of individual prizes awarded in the 

 open classes. Page 18. 



Barley and oats stood third in point of prizes won at the show and 

 also ranked third in the carcass competition. This ration produced the 

 lowest gains of any fed during the second period. Page 18. 



Corn, oats v and bran and corn and oats produced the largest and 

 most economical gains, but, with a few exceptions, the wethers fed this 

 ration were inclined to be soft and over done. Carcasses from the lot 

 fed corn, oats, and bran were never awarded prizes in the regular car- 

 cass classes. Pag e s ig to 19. 



Whole oats fed alone are a most excellent feed for sheep which are 

 well advanced in flesh, but, as a rule, for sheep being fitted for fat 

 classes, they are too bulky to insure the desired finish. Page 14. 



Show wethers must be carefully trimmed so that they will appear 

 at their best in the ring. After the last trimming, neat fitting blankets 

 are put on to protect their fleeces. Page 21. 



It is more difficult to fit wether lambs than yearling wethers The 

 lambs are taught to eat grain and clover or alfalfa hay as early as pos- 

 sible by means of a lamb creep. Abundant exercise and plenty of green 

 help to keep them in good growing condition throughout the fitting 

 period. Pages 21 to 24 



For a few days before the trip to the show the sheep should be fed 

 less green feed, and the total amount of feed given at the last meal be- 

 tore shipment should be reduced about one-half. During shipment and 



ter arrival at the show careful provisions should be made for their 



Pages 24 to 26. 



