freight, cost of feed before the experiment began, the actual cost 

 of the lambs when started on trial was $8.85 per cwt. 



METHOD OF VALUING THE LAMBS 



The initial value of the lambs was taken as $8.85 per cwt. or 

 actual cost. It was impossible to base the initial value on the Chi- 

 cago market as has been done in the past because the Chicago mar- 

 ket was not open for feeding lambs and was, therefore, making no 

 price quotations. Final values were placed on the fat lambs by 

 Messrs. Chas. H. Shurte of the Knollin Sheep Commission Co., 

 Chicago, Illinois, J. M. Horan of Armour and Co., Chicago, Illinois, 

 and J. S. Taylor of Indianapolis. Final values of fat lambs are on 

 the basis of Chicago prices less 60 cents per hundred pounds, to 

 cover cost of shipping. All financial statements are based on the 

 actual cost of lambs and Chicago valuation for fat lambs less 60 

 cents per hundred pounds. 



QUALITY OF FEEDS 



The rations fed were composed of various combinations of all 

 or part of the following feeds : shelled corn, oats, cane molasses, 

 cottonseed meal, ground soybeans, clover hay, alfalfa hay, oat straw, 

 and corn silage. Corn and oats were of fair quality. The unfav- 

 orable season for crop production 'in 1915 did not produce grain of 

 normal feeding value. Molasses was purchased on the open mar- 

 ket and was of the ordinary cane feeding variety ; cottonseed meal 

 was of choice grade guaranteed to contain 41 per cent, crude pro- 

 tein and 8 per cent, fat ; soybeans were good and contained 39 per 

 cent, protein. Clover hay was of medium quality. Alfalfa hay was 

 of second and third cutting and of excellent quality, considering the 

 unfavorable season for curing hay. Oat straw was of excellent 

 quality carried over from the previous year. Corn silage was made 

 from corn produced on Purdue farm and yielding approximately 

 fifty-two bushels per acre. Corn was well matured when put into 

 the silo. This produced a silage containing approximately 37.31 per 

 cent, dry matter. Care was taken at all times that no moldy or 

 spoiled silage was fed. 



PRICES OF FEEDS 



The prices of corn used in presenting financial results are based 

 on the actual price at LaFayette elevators during the time the ex- 

 periment was in progress, which was as follows: first month 47.2 

 cents; second month, 54.8 cents; third month, 61.7 cents; last ten 

 days 64 cents per bushel. Oats are valued at 32 cents per bushel; 

 cottonseed meal and ground soybeans at $38.00 per ton; and mo- 

 lasses at $30.00 per ton. Clover and alfalfa hay are valued at 

 $12.00 per ton; oat straw $5.00 per ton; corn silage $4.50 per ton. 

 All financial statements are based on the principle that the value of 

 the manure offsets the labor of feeding and cost of bedding. 



