RATIONS FOR FATTENING WESTERN SHEEP 



343 



The yearlings fed in the open lot received the same amount of 

 'rain and consumed a little moreliay than did those fed in the barn, 

 "he total gains made by the yearlings fed in the barn averaged three 

 id one-half pounds per head more than those fed outside. The 

 irn-fed lot required 362.61 pounds, or 6.4 bushels less corn per 

 lundred pounds gain than did the lot which was fed in the open, 

 cost of one hundred pounds gain in Lot VII was $2.02 greater 

 lan the same amount gained in Lot II with corn at forty cents per 

 mshel, and hay at $10 per ton. 



This is the result of only one trial. However it is sufficient to 

 idicate that under average weather conditions which prevail in 

 issouri one must have barns or sheds which will protect the sheep 

 rom rains and snow in order to make sheep feeding profitable. 

 r hen a sheep's fleece becomes thoroughly soaked, it will require 

 >ur or five days for it to dry out. There is always great danger of 

 meumonia, colds and other attendant difficulties under these condi- 

 ions. 



During the ninety-eight days of this feeding trial, fifty-one 

 lys were clear, twenty-nine days were cloudy or partly cloudy 

 ind the other eighteen days it either rained or snowed. The max- 

 lum temperature was seventy degrees which occurred in the sec- 

 >nd week in January. The minimum was eight degrees which oc- 

 curred the second week in February. The average range of temp- 

 erature for most weeks varied from twenty to forty-five degrees. 



