PLAN 



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

 lambs and discard the smallest and any extremely large ones, in 

 order to secure a flock as uniform as possible. This selected flock 

 was divided into nine lots of twenty-five lambs each. All lots were 

 as nearly uniform as possible as to size, condition, quality, thrift, 

 sex, and breeding. Eight of the nine lots were placed in an open 

 shed and fed different rations. One lot was fed in the barn upon a 

 ration similar to Lot 6 in the open shed. 



The following rations were fed : 



Lot i. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, corn silage. 



Lot 2. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, molasses, clover hay, 

 corn silage. 



Lot 3. Shelled corn and clover hay. 



Lot 4. Shelled corn and alfalfa hay. 



Lot 5. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, oat straw, corn silage. 



Lot 6. Shelled corn, clover hay, corn silage. 



Lot 7. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, clover hay, corn silage. 



Lot 8. Shelled corn, ground soybeans, clover hay, corn silage. 



Lot 9. Shelled corn, clover hay, corn silage (fed in barn). 



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 beginning 

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

 er. 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 a 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. 





