MAINTENANCE OF BREEDING EWES OF MUTTON AND WOOL SHEEP 17 



expected. The profits in sheep raising will depend largely upon 

 the ability to raise high percentages of lambs fitted into good con- 

 ditioij for market, since the production of mutton is variable and 

 that of wool is relatively stable. 



Table 9 shows that when alfalfa hay is worth $15 per ton a 

 reasonable profit can be made on ewes, fed as in Lots II and IV, 

 with 100 and 125 per cent lambs raised, and at mutton and wool 

 prices of 1916. 



SUMMARY 

 Part I 



1. Corn silage as a sole roughage, supplemented with one 

 pound of cottonseed meal to each 25 pounds of silage, is an unsatis- 

 factory ration for pregnant ewes, even with the addition of a good 

 grain mixture. 



2. Lambs dropped by ewes, fed a ration of corn silage and 

 cottonseed meal, are heavier, weaker, less active at birth and have 

 a higher mortality than lambs of ewes fed a roughage ration of 

 corn silage and alfalfa hay. 



3. Breeding ewes fed a ration of corn silage and cottonseed 

 meal are less active and less vigorous in the latter stages of preg- 

 nancy than ewes fed corn silage and alfalfa hay as roughages. 



4. Lambs raised by breeding ewes, fed corn silage as a sole 

 roughage, matured into good, marketable lambs. 



5. As a roughage ration corn silage and alfalfa hay fed to- 

 gether was satisfactory. 



6. The Shropshire ewes required more air-dry matter for 

 maintenance per ewe but less per 100 pounds liveweight than the 

 Delaine-Merino ewes, on the same feeds. 



7. The cost of winter feeds was 18.5 per cent less in the 

 Shropshire lot and 22.2 per cent less in the Delaine Merino lot 

 where corn silage was the sole roughage. This fact does not 

 justify its use as a sole roughage, because of its high mortality 

 risk. It should be fed to the greatest extent possible without 

 danger to the pregnant ewe. 



8. Delaine-Merino ewes, though not so easily placed in high 

 condition of flesh, retain that condition more persistently after 

 lambing than do Shropshires, and require less attention. The 

 Delaine-Merinos were more subject to "foul foot" in damp weather. 



9. Delaine-Merino ewes in Lot III averaged 40.9 per cent 

 heavier fleeces with a greater valuation of 36.7 per cent, than the 



