PART VII 



22. Lambs fed in a well ventilated barn ate practically the same 

 quantity of feed but made slightly less gains than those fed in an 

 open shed. 



23. The cost of gain was slightly higher when the lambs were 

 fed in the barn. 



24. Lambs fed in a barn were valued at $10.30 per cwt, and 

 returned a profit of $1.22 per head; lambs fed in an open shed were 

 valued at $10.30 per cwt. and returned a profit of $1.31 per head. 



INTRODUCTION 



Eight trials in feeding lambs have been conducted at this in- 

 stitution. Lambs have in the last few years been the most profitable 

 animals employed for converting feed into meat. Although the cost 

 of feed has been high, the price received for fat lambs has been 

 such that very handsome profits were realized. Feed was thus 

 marketed at a figure very much above the market and the fertility 

 contained therein returned in part to the soil. Notwithstanding the 

 fact that the profits from feeding lambs have been high, the main- 

 tenance of soil productivity through the feeding of live stock is the 

 greatest and most permanent benefit to be derived from the feed- 

 ing of lambs. Were it not for the advantages of marketing of 

 crops and the maintenance of soil fertility, benefits derived from 

 the direct profit in feeding lambs would in a long series of years 

 not be large enough to make the business attractive except to a lim- 

 ited number of special sheep feeders. 'Under conditions as they 

 exist, the marketing of crops, the maintenance of soil fertility and 

 le direct profit secured, make lamb feeding a practice to be highly 

 :ommended to stockmen who are equipped for the business. 



OBJECT 



The object of this work was to obtain additional information 

 the comparative feeding value of the more common roughages of 

 the farm and on the advisability of using some concentrated com- 

 mercial feeding stuff for fattening lambs. This includes a com- 

 parison of clover hay and corn silage alone and in combination as 

 roughage for fattening lambs ; the value of corn silage alone as 

 roughage and in combination with dry roughage for fattening 

 lambs ; a comparison of the feeding value of clover hay and alfalfa 

 hay for fattening lambs; the value of cottonseed meal for supple- 

 menting rations of corn, clover hay, and corn silage; the compar- 

 ative value of cottonseed meal and ground soybeans as supplements 

 to rations for fattening lambs; the value of molasses for fattening 

 lambs ; and the influence of shelter for fattening lambs. 



