46 FEEDING WITH SUGAR BEETS, SUGAR, ETC. 



cossettes, the milk required for the special purpose of lamb 

 fattening at certain seasons of the year, generally in mid-winter, 

 may be had at a very low cost, and almost defies all other 

 competition. 



During the very early days of the lamb's existence it had 

 better depend upon its mother for its subsistence, and the im- 

 portance of having the ewes well looked after is self evident. 

 A suitable diet is needed, and express orders should be given 

 not to permit shearing, as experiments show that this is gener- 

 ally followed by a decrease in the flow of milk. However, 

 when from local reasons there is a marked demand for the wool, 

 the secreting powers of the ewes may be restored after a week's 

 time by the judicious introduction of certain feeding stuffs in 

 the ration. 



The age of the animal has an important influence on the 

 possible money profits that are to be derived from fattening, the 

 young animals being, in the long run, more profitable. * 



In whatever State sheep feeding with residuum pulp is prac- 

 ticed, one is to a certain extent dependent upon the breeds that 

 the locality can furnish. Certain breeds are more profitable than 

 others. For breeders who purpose to continue with lambs from 

 year to year, it may be considered advantageous to carry out 

 certain comparative breed tests. In order to save money and 

 time, experiments have been made with self-feeding appliances, 

 the grain being placed in a special upper receptacle, and falling 

 by gravity as the hopper connecting it with the trough becomes 

 empty. The sheep have in this manner food ad libitum. These 

 devices have never been up to expectations, and are not to be 

 recommended. 



Mistake of \y e have already mentioned in a general way how the shear- 

 ing influences the milk; in the same way the possibilities of 

 fattening are lowest when the wool has been removed. In this 

 respect the experiments of Craig of the Wisconsin station have 

 brought to light some important conclusions, among which may 

 be mentioned that shorn lambs eat more, drink less water 

 and make 30 per cent, less gain than the unshorn, hence when 

 fattening is the object in view the shearing, and even increase of 

 wool, is objectionable. 



