FITTING YEARLING WETHERS AND LAMBS FOR EXHIBITION 15 



tuse they did not carry quite enough i'at with the lean, which 



an indication of not enough finish. 



As will be noted from Table i, the rations of whole oats and 

 barley and oats made comparatively lower gains than any 



the other rations. Substituting wheat bran i'or 20% of the 

 barley in the ration of oats and barley, as was done in the sec- 

 ond trial, increased the efficiency of this ration quite materially. 



The rations of corn and oats, and of corn, oats, and bran pro- 

 duced the largest and most economical gains. With a few ex- 

 ceptions, the wethers fed this ration were inclined to be soft and 

 somewhat overdone, to which condition both judges and butchers 

 object. 



Peas and whole oats produced the second largest gains in the 

 first trial and the third largest gains in the second trial when 

 wheat bran was substituted for 20%, of the peas. Peas are com- 

 paratively expensive, but produce a firm quality of flesh, as 

 well as good gains, and are highly recommended when fed in 

 combination with oats and bran for show fitting. 



In 1904, representatives of the four lots were slaughtered and 

 the carcasses grouped according to the ration fed and judged by 

 a meat expert of the Union Stock Yards. On the basis of the 

 carcasses being well covered -along the back and well filled out in 

 the thighs, having an even distribution of fat over and through- 

 out the entire body, without a surplus about the kidneys and 

 the rump, and 'the flesh being of a good color, the lots were 

 ranked as follows with respect to the rations fed: Corn and 

 oats, first; whole oats, second; cracked peas and oats, third; 

 barley and oats, fourth. During each year of the second period 

 the above plan of having the carcasses grouped according to the 

 respective lots and judged by a meat expert was carried out with 

 all of the wethers of each lot included. It is a very noteworthy 

 fact that the wethers fed peas, oats, and bran were awarded 

 first place each year during this period. From Table II it will 

 also be noted that in 1907 the second prize carcass, in 1908 the 

 first and second prize carcasses, and in 1909 the third prize car- 

 cass were all produced on this ration. These latter prizes were 

 awarded by a different judge than the one who passed on the 

 groups. 



Lot 3, fed barley, oats, and bran, was awarded the second place 

 in 1907 and 1908 in the comparison of groups, and third .place 



