DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 



The price of feed or the cost of lambs does not necessarily de- 

 termine the profit to be made from lamb feeding. This is shown 

 by the results of the test reported in this bulletin. The prices of 

 both feed and lambs were the highest ever experienced with ex- 

 perimental stock at Purdue, yet a satisfactorily high market for 

 finished lambs rendered the operation the most profitable of any 

 lamb feeding trials previously conducted. 



The animals used were choice western lambs bred in southern 

 Colorado and improved by blackfaced rams. They were pur- 

 chased on the Chicago market and were of excellent quality but 

 uneven in size and condition. Before being started on feed they 

 were divided into nine lots of 25 lambs each. All lots were as 

 nearly equal as possible in weight, quality, condition, thrift and 

 sex. They were fed, twice daily at the same hours. Lots i, 3, 4, 

 5, 6, 7 and 8 were fed in an open shed facing south, upon different 

 rations. Lots 2, 7 and 9 were fed the same ration, but Lots 2 and 



9 were shorn and the latter fed in a well ventilated barn. 



The following rations were fed : 



Lot i. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, corn silage. 



Lot 2. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, clover hay, corn silage. 



(lambs shorn) 



Lot 3. Shelled corn, clover hay. 

 Lot 4. Shelled corn, alfajfa hay. 

 Lot 5. Shelled corn, alfalfa hay, corn silage. 

 Lot 6. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, corn silage, (clover hay 



every fifth day). 



Lot 7. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, clover hay, corn silage. 

 Lot 8. Shelled corn, ground soybeans, clover hay, corn silage. 

 Lot 9. Shelled corn, cottonseed meal, clover hay, corn silage. 



(lambs shorn and fed in barn) 



All feeding was done at regular hours. All feed was weighed 

 before being fed. The lambs were weighed at regular intervals of 



10 days. They were valued at the end of the trial by expert sheep- 

 men from the stock yards. The results of the trial are shown in 

 the table. 



Corn silage without hay, did not prove satisfactory as rough- 

 age. The lambs did not have as eager appetites, nor make as rapid 

 gains as when hay was fed in addition to the grain and silage. The 

 lambs not receiving hay also made less economical gains and failed 

 to acquire as good a finish as those receiving hay as a part of the 

 daily ration. When clover hay was given once every fifth day, the 

 lambs maintained more eager appetites, made more rapid and more 

 economical gains than when no hay was fed, but less rapid and 

 less economical gains than when hay was fed every day in addition 

 to grain and silage. Lambs fed grain and silage returned a profit 

 of 83 cents per head; those fed grain, silage, and hay every fifth 



