6;6 



OBJECT 



The object of this work was to secure accurate data on the 

 comparative value of the more common roughages of the farm and 

 the advisability of using some concentrated commercial feeding 

 stuff for fattening lambs. This includes comparisons between clover 

 hay, timothy hay, and corn silage as roughages for fattening lambs 

 and also shows the effect of adding cottonseed meal to rations of 

 shelled corn and the different roughages mentioned above. 



PLAN 



The plan- of the work was to secure strong vigorous western 

 lambs and discard the smaller ones until a uniform flock w; 

 secured. This selected flock was divided into seven lots, equal ii 

 size, condition, quality, thrift, and breeding. The lots were fed as 

 follows : 



Lot I. Shelled corn, timothy hay. 



Lot 2. Shelled corn seven parts, cottonseed meal one part, 

 timothy hay. 



Lot 3. Shelled corn, clover hay. 



Lot 4. Shelled corn seven parts, cottonseed meal one part, 

 clover 'hay. 



Lot 5. Shelled corn, clover hay (morning) silage (evening). 



Lot 6. Shelled corn seven parts, cottonseed meal one part, 

 clover hay (morning) and silage (evening). 



Lot 7. Shelled corn seven parts, cottonseed meal one part, 

 clover hay (morning and evening) silage (morn- 

 ing and evening). 



SHELTER, FEEDING YARDS, AND WATER SUPPLY. The condi- 

 tions surrounding the lambs were no better than those in an average 

 feed lot. Each lot of twenty lambs was fed in an open shed 14 b] 

 1 6 feet facing south opening into a yard 14 by 28 feet. No pave- 

 ment, cinders or stone was placed in either shed or yard. The shed 

 was generally dry and no bedding other than the waste from the 

 feed rack was used except on two occasions when the snow had 

 drifted in badly. The yards were often muddy in wet weather. The 

 lambs at all times had dry ground under cover on which to lie. 



The water was supplied from the West Lafayette Water 

 Works in galvanized iron tubs. The water was renewed twice daily 

 and the tubs were cleaned once daily. An attempt was made to 

 keep fresh water before the lambs at all times but this was some- 

 times difficult in the winter of 1911-12 on account of the water in 

 the tubs freezing very quickly during the cold weather. 



