FATTENING LAMBS. 



BY 



[. JONES, A. M., ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN, BREEDING INVESTIGATIONS. 



Lamb feeding is comparatively a new industry in Texas, but the 

 indications are that it will receive extensive development during the 

 next few years. The sheep ranges are bordered by agricultural sections 

 capable of producing a great variety of grain and forage crops suitable 

 for the feeding of lambs. The question of what feeds can be most 

 profitably grown is of vital concern to the prospective sheep feeder. 

 He, of course, desires to grow crops which, when fed to lambs, will 

 produce maximum gains at a minimum cost. Heretofore, the Texas 

 Station has not been in a position to conduct extensive investigations 

 in lamb feeding, because of the fact that no funds have been available 

 for the work. 



The test herein reported was conducted in cooperation with Mr. J. 

 E. Boog-Scott, on his farm near Coleman, Texas, who furnished the 

 lambs, feeding stuffs, and the necessary help. In fact, the traveling 

 expenses of the writer were the only expenses borne by the Experiment 

 Station. 



OBJECT. 



The object of this test was to compare the value of silage, constitut- 

 ing the sole source of a roughage supply in the ration of fattening 

 lambs, with a supply of silage supplemented by cotton seed hulls. Each 

 lot was to receive concentrates in the form of cotton seed meal at the 

 outset, this to be supplemented with milo and feterita chops at such 

 periods as might be deemed advisable. Many feeders do not consider 

 silage as being desirable in the ration of the fattening lamb. Some 

 even contend that it has a deleterious rather than a beneficial effect. 



THE EXPERIMENT. 



The following was the initial ration supplied to the lambs: 



Lot 1. Cotton seed meal, cotton seed hulls, and silage made from 

 feterita and sorghum. 



Lot 2. Cotton seed meal, and silage made from feterita and sorghum. 



During the progress of the experiment the following changes were 

 made in the ration? of the two lots: On the 60th day of the test 

 feterita and milo chops were added to the ration of Lot 2; on the 103d 

 day of the test the ration of Lot 1 was supplemented by the same 

 concentrate. 



LAMBS USED. 



The lambs used in this experiment were raised in Coleman county, 

 under range conditions, by Boog-Scott and Gay, of Coleman. These 



