372 



FACTORS AFFECTING GAIN IN FATTENING 



The following comparison between wether and ewe lambs fed 

 for a period of 90 days is taken from Illinois Station Bulletin 167 : 



Comparison of Wether and Ewe Lambs as to Feed Consumed and Gains Made. 



The Influence of Shearing. Where good housing facilities 

 have been available, shearing before the fattening period has be- 

 come far advanced has been extensively practiced chiefly for the 

 purpose of stimulating the appetite and increasing the rate of gain. 

 This practice undoubtedly increases the appetite, but it does not 

 materially increase the rate of gain unless the animals are made 

 more comfortable by removing the fleece. When the barn is large 

 and the system of ventilation such that cold draughts can be 

 avoided, a large number of sheep crowded in close will probably 

 be more comfortable out of the fleece even in cold weather. But 

 it seldom pays to shear when the weather is cold except under such 

 circumstances as the necessity of getting more sheep into the shelter 

 available or of getting rid of ticks. 



If the feeding period advances into the spring months, after 

 the weather has become warm enough to make sheep in the fleece 

 uncomfortable, then it will pay to shear, for the rate of gain will 

 be considerably increased. 



It may pay to shear just before marketing. More sheep can be 

 placed in a car, and if the margin between clipped and undipped 

 sheep is small, some money may be made by removing the fleeces. 

 But before proceeding to do it, the feeder should be sure that a good 

 weight of desirable wool will be secured, and he should know 

 something of how to dispose of it. 



Self-feeders. -When the practice of feeding western sheep and 

 lambs first began, nearly all of the large operators used self-feeders 

 and they are still used in various places. Whether or not the self- 



