44 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 120 



received clover hay and corn silage is accounted for by the larger 

 per cent of lambs dropped and should not be attributed to the dif- 

 ference in the feed. 



Throughout the first year's work, there was very little difference 

 in the value of the two rations. The lambs were of practically the 

 same average birth weight, and after lambing when both lots were 

 put on a ration of grain and alfalfa hay the ewes suckled their lambs 

 equally well, as is indicated by the average daily gain of the lambs 

 for the first thirty days after birth. The most important difference 

 is seen in the average daily ration. The ewes in Lot VIII required 

 about one-half pound more of clover hay per head per day than did 

 the ewes in Lot VII which received the clover hay and corn silage. 



During the second year of this trial, the silage proved a better 

 roughness than the stover. The silage in this test was of much better 

 quality, containing a larger amount of grain than did the silage which 

 was used in the trial the first year. The ewes receiving the silage 

 more nearly maintained their condition and produced stronger and 

 heavier lambs than the ewes receiving the corn stover. The ewes in 

 Lot VII which received the corn silage suckled their lambs better 

 than those receiving the stover. 



The table shows that the lambs in Lot XVIII made a little greater 

 gain than those of Lot XVII. This is accounted for by the fact that 

 six of the ewes in Lot XVIII did not produce sufficient milk to keep 

 the lambs alive and they died before the end of the third week. Thus, 

 only four of the strongest lambs were left. The ewes of Lot XVII 

 were able to raise all their lambs, which gives them a decided advan- 

 tage. 



Averaging the two years' work, there was little difference in the 

 efficiency of the rations up to lambing time. After lambing, the 

 corn silage and clover hay proved the superior ration. 



Corn Silage, Clover Hay and Grain vs. Corn Stover, Clover Hay 

 and Grain. The results of feeding grain and clover with corn silage 

 and corn stover respectively were recorded in tables III and IV. In 

 Table V, the results of feeding small amounts of both grain and 

 clover, with silage and corn stover respectively are presented. 



