174 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



for any Mexicans that day. The mixed lot was sold ill Chi- 

 cago April 26th, when the balance of the Shrops and the 

 small end of the Mexicans were sold separately, both bring- 

 ing ten cents below the top price paid for Mexican lambs 

 that day, while the extreme small end of the Merinos sold 

 very considerably below. April 27th, the second Merinos 

 were sold at 20 cents below the top price for lambs that day. 



The top Mexicans and top Merinos were fed until May 

 15th, to which date from the first of April both lots made 

 an average net gain per head of 2-10 Ib. per day. The Meri- 

 nos were sold in South Omaha, April 17th, weighing there an 

 average of 89 Ibs., and bringing a higher price than had 

 been paid for lambs in that market before that day. The 

 Mexicans were taken on to Chicago, but would have sold 

 in South Omaha at 10 cents higher than the Merinos did the 

 same day. The Mexicans were sold in Chicago, May 20th, 

 averaging 89 Ibs., bringing 22 J /L> cents below the extreme 

 top price of the day, principally on account of their heavy 

 weight. 



The average shrink of whole lot marketed from home 

 weights was a trifle under six pounds. In my experiment, 

 the Shrops made the greatest gain of all, while the Delaine 

 Merinos kept fully up to the Mexicans, with, as near as it 

 was possible, the same feed and care." 



One point of interest in this record should not be missed. 

 This is that these lambs were cross-breds, and as a rule it 

 has been found that by making the right cross a considerable 

 gain may be made over that usual in the ewes used for the 

 cross. The choice of the rams for the crossing on the ewes 

 is therefore of the greatest importance in the feeding of 

 lambs. 



EXPERIMENTS IN FEEDING LAMBS. 



Some interesting experiments made in England in feed- 

 ing lambs may be noticed. Eight lambs were put in each of 

 eleven lots, and fed as here described, making the gain set 

 against each lot. 



Lot 1. Consumed 23 1 /* Ibs. of turnips per day, and 

 gained in fifteen weeks 25 1 /{> Ibs. each. 



Lot 2. Put on grass and fed Ibs. of turnips a day, 

 gained in the same time 26% Ibs. each. 



