SHELTER, FEEDING YARDS AND WATER SUPPLY 



The conditions surrounding the lambs were no better than those 

 in many feed lots of the State. Eight lots of twenty-five lambs 

 each, were fed in an open shed facing south, opening into a yard 

 fourteen feet deep. Each lot of lambs occupied a covered shed 

 14 by 16 feet and an open lot 14 by 14 feet. No pavement, cinders, 

 or stone was placed in either yard or shed. The sheds were dry and 

 no bedding other than the waste, which was small, from the feed 

 racks was used except when the sheds were bedded at the begin- 

 ning of the experiment. The open yards were often muddy in wet 

 weather. The lambs at all times had dry ground in the shed on 

 which to lie. The lot of lambs fed in the barn was confined to 

 space 14 by 24 feet with a concrete floor and was not allowed out 

 of the barn during the experiment. The barn was well ventilated 

 and did not become unduly warm, nor did the air become heavy 

 or stagnant at any time. The floor was kept well bedded at all 

 times. 



Water was supplied to all lots from the West LaFayette Water 

 Works in galvanized iron tubs, which were regularly cleaned once 

 daily and more often when necessary. They were refilled twice 

 daily so that fresh water was kept before the lambs at all times. 



WEIGHTS 



Weights were taken by lots on three consecutive days at the 

 beginning and end of the trial and every tenth day during the prog- 

 ress of the same. The average of the three consecutive weights at 

 the beginning and end of the trial was used as the initial and final 

 weights. Individual weights in addition to lot weights were taken 

 on three consecutive days at the beginning and end of the trial, and 

 every thirtieth day throughput the progress of the same. The 

 identity of each lamb was known by a numbered tag fastened to 

 the ear. Weights were taken in the morning after the lambs had 

 finished eating. 



METHOD OF FEEDING 



The method of feeding was the same in all lots reported ii 

 this bulletin.. The grain was fed at 6:00 A. M. and 4:30 P. M. 

 under cover, in narrow grain troughs. When oats or cottonseec 

 meal was fed in addition to corn it was mixed with the corn befon 

 being scattered in the troughs. Grain was fed in such quantities a< 

 would be eaten before the lambs left the troughs. When starting 

 on feed about one-fourth of a pound of oats per head was fed 

 twice daily. After the lambs had learned to eat oats, small amounts 

 of corn were added to the rations. Within a few days the lambs 

 were eating corn readily and the oats, except in Lot 2, were grad- 

 ually dropped from the ration and in Lots i, 5, 7, and 8, cottonseed 

 meal was added. Within ten days all lots were on the experimental 

 rations. The grain was increased until they were on full feed at 



