646 



will more than offset the loss of the large number formerly 

 raised on the range. By this better care the lambs will be 

 better fitted for the butcher and will command a higher price 

 in the market than formerly. 



Although sheep raising is one of the most profitable in- 

 dustries on the farm, in some of the most densely populated 

 sections of this state, where the farms are highly improved, 

 where large yields of grain are obtained annually, and where 

 during the past few years the price of the land has trebled, 

 the fattening of sheep for market is practically unknown. 



This Bulletin presents the results obtained in two feeding 

 experiments with lambs. The first experiment was to de- 

 termine the relative value of alfalfa hay and upland prairie 

 hay with the same kind of grain ration; the second was to 

 determine the value of different grain rations for lambs while 

 on rape pasture. 



The question of producing the cheapest pound of gain 

 should be kept in mind when fattening lambs, for market, and 

 these results are intended to furnish the fitter an idea of the 

 value of cheap fodder and pasture in mutton production. 



EXPERIMENT NO. 1 



FATTENING LAMBS ON ALFALFA AND PRAIRIE HAY 



The successful introduction of hardy varieties of alfalfa 

 into different section of South Dakota in the near future will 

 have a great bearing on the live stock industry. This legume 

 will furnish to a large extent the protein desired to feed with 

 the highly carbonaceous grains. It is a palatable and a highly 

 digestible feed. If properly made into hay it serves as a 

 conditioner for all kinds of live stock during the long winter 

 when green forage is not at hand. 



The results of an experiment with hogs at this Station in 

 feeding the same kind of a grain ration on blue grass, clover, 

 and alfalfa pastures, show that the gain for the lot receiv- 

 ing alfalfa, during the same period, was fifteen pounds greater 



