RATIONS FOR BREEDING EWES 



37 



as great a difference as could be seen in the lambs. The lambs 

 Lot II were fat and in the best of condition, while those in Lot VI 

 :ked the flesh which is required to make good marketable lambs in 



early summer. 



It is of further interest to note that the eleven strong lambs in Lot 

 did not make as high an average daily gain as did the lambs in 

 >t II, where all lambs were considered. This emphasizes the fact 

 it the ewes fed on timothy hay were not in a condition to suckle 

 leir lambs as well as the ewes fed on clover. It should be remem- 

 -ed that after lambing, the ewes of both lots were fed on alfalfa hay 

 id grain. 



The two lots were fed practically the same amount of grain and 

 during the period of pregnancy. The lot receiving timothy hay 

 not eat the hay with the keen appetite, however, which was 

 >ticeable with the ewes fed clover. Lot II (clover hay) refused only 

 )2 Ibs. of hay per head per day, while Lot VI (timothy hay) refused 

 17 Ibs. per head per day. 



There was very little difference in the cost of the two rations as 

 loice timothy and choice clover are about the same in price. 

 Timothy hay proved to be such an inferior ration that it was not 

 mtinued the second year. 



CLOVER HAY AND GRAIN vs. CLOVER HAY. 



Under systems of diversified farming, breeding ewes are kept to 

 :ilize the coarser feeds such as hays, fodders, etc. The more con- 

 jntrated feed such as grains are either sold or fed to animals which 

 in utilize them to better advantage than the breeding ewes. How- 

 , a small portion of the grain might be used to good advantage in 

 >ding the breeding flock. Especially is this true when the pastures 

 ive been sparse so that the breeding flock goes into the winter in 

 tin condition. In order to throw some light on this question, the 

 trial which is reported in Table II was conducted. 



