MAINTENANCE OF BREEDING EWES OF MUTTON AND WOOL SHEEP 19 



X. 



5. A ration of alfalfa hay, corn silage and a limited grain 

 mixture is more economical by 15.6 per cent than alfalfa as a sole 

 roughage, and is satisfactory for pregnant ewes. 



6. Ewes fed no grain prior to lambing produced stronger 

 lambs in Lots II and IV, and gave more milk than those in Lots 

 I and III. 



7. Except for the 1915 crop of lambs, when no grain was fed 

 prior to lambing, the lambs of Lots I and III, fed alfalfa hay as a 

 sole roughage, carried a higher condition of flesh and made more 

 rapid gains than those in Lots II and IV, respectively. 



8. The daily air-dry matter in feeds consumed per ewe was 

 21 per cent greater, and per 100 pounds liveweight 23 per cent 

 greater, in Shropshire Lot I, with alfalfa hay as a sole roughage, 

 than in Shropshire Lot II, with corn silage and alfalfa hay. 



9. The daily consumption of air-dry matter by the Delaine- 

 Merinos was 18.9 per cent greater per ewe, and 16.2 per cent greater 

 per 100 pounds liveweight, in Lot III than in Lot IV. 



10. The bedding per ewe varied from 75.2 to 90.03 pounds 

 in the four lots. 



11. A greater amount of manure was produced by ewes fed 

 alfalfa hay as a sole roughage. 



12. Shropshires in Lot I consumed 8.6 per cent more air-dry 

 matter in feed per ewe, but 13.1 per cent less per 100 pounds 

 liveweight than the Delaine-Merinos in Lot III on a similar ration. 



13. Shropshires in Lot II consumed 6.1 per cent more air-dry 

 matter per ewe and 20 per cent less per 100 pounds liveweight 

 during the winter period than the Delaine-Merinos in Lot IV, fed 

 a similar ration. 



14. The average Delaine-Merino fleece in Lot III was 30.4 

 per cent heavier and 17.6 per cent more valuable than the average 

 Shropshire fleece in Lot I ; while in Lot IV the Delaine-Merino 

 fleece averaged 45.1 per cent heavier and was 22.3 per cent more 

 valuable than the Shropshire fleece from Lot II. 



15. The lambs produced by the Delaine-Merinos were heavier 

 at birth than the Shropshire lambs, due to a small proportion of 

 twins. 



16. The Delaine-Merino lambs were hardier at birth and the 

 ewes required less care than did the Shropshires. 



17. The cost of maintenance per ewe decreases with the in- 

 crease in number of ewes in a flock to a unit of at least 40 ewes. 



