12 BULLETIN 996, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Three experiments were conducted to determine whether twin ewe 

 lambs would catch up in weight with the singles if given an oppor- 

 tunity. Of the 1915 crop, 19 head of singles and 22 twin-ewe lambs 

 were fed separately for 112 days (December 8, 1915, to March 28, 

 1916). At the outset the singles were 8.6 pounds heavier and at the 

 close of the test they were 1 1 pounds heavier. They received similar 

 feed, but that eaten by the twins contained about 6 per cent more 

 total energy. After running in the same lot on pasture until August 

 30, 1916, the single-born lambs were still 8 pounds heavier. 



In November, 1916, 8 head of single ewe lambs and 8 head of twins 

 that had been raised as twins were placed in a similar experiment. 

 The average daily ration fed the twins contained 0.28 pound of pro- 

 tein and 1.84 therms of energy as compared with 0.24 pound of 

 protein and 1.57 therms of energy for the singles. At the start the 

 singles were 7 pounds heavier and at the close of the special feeding 

 the weights were identical. The twins were somewhat fatter, how- 

 ever, and after rimning with the others on pasture until August 25, 

 1917, were 2.4 pounds lighter. 



In the summer of 1917 an attempt was made to furnish lambs 

 raised as twins sufficient extra grain to permit them to catch up with 

 those born singles. From birth (about March 1) until July 1, there 

 were 11 single ewe lambs and 3 born twins but raised as singles in 

 one lot, and 8 twin-raised ewe lambs in the other lot. During that 

 time the former ate 50 pounds of grain each and the twins 63 pounds, 

 with the result that the twin lambs averaged 7 pounds lighter than 

 the others. Subsequently the lambs were fed and pastured as one 

 lot until December 29, 1917, at which time the singles were 3 pounds 

 heavier. From December 29, 1917, to April 6,- 1918, the single lambs 

 ate an average daily ration of 1 pound of the following grain mix- 

 ture: Cracked corn 100 parts, bran 30 parts, in connection with 2 

 pounds timothy hay and 2 pounds turnips per head. That eaten by 

 the twin lambs consisted of If pounds of a mixture consisting of 

 cracked corn 80 parts, oats 60 parts, bran 35 parts, in connection 

 with 2 pounds of timothy hay and 2 pounds of turnips. On April 6 

 the singles weighed 107 pounds and the twins 110. That their extra 

 gain was not fat is shown by the fact that after running on pasture 

 with no feed until August 10, the twins were 3.1 pounds heavier per 

 head than the singles. A comparison of the gains made by singles, 

 twins raised as twins, and twins raised as singles is shown in Table 7. 



The fact that lambs born as twins but receiving all of one ewe's 

 milk often equal and sometimes outweigh single lambs makes the 

 matter appear to be one of nourishment. The slight lack of growth 

 and development of twin-ewe lambs below that of singles at market 

 age is not serious in comparison with the advantage of larger numbers. 



