CHAPTER XXVI 



FEEDS FOR SHEEP 

 I. Concentrates for Sheep 



In the following paragraphs, which discuss the value of various 

 feeds for sheep, especially for fattening animals, it will be noted that 

 nearly all the trials reviewed were with lambs. This is due to the 

 facts pointed out in the preceding chapter, that lambs make better 

 use of their feed than older animals and that their flesh is in greater 

 demand. 



Indian corn. — Corn, the best single grain for fattening sheep, is 

 the cereal most commonly used in this country as far west as Col- 

 orado, beyond which barley and wheat are more generally fed. Since 

 legume hay, rich in protein, admirably supplements corn, the com- 

 bination of corn and clover or alfalfa hay has become a standard 

 ration for fattening sheep over a large district. In this chapter 

 other rations will, where possible, be compared with this successful 

 combination. To show the possibilities of these feeds, below are 

 averaged the results from 8 stations with 26 lots, including 527 lambs, 

 which were fed an unlimited allowance of shelled corn and either 

 clover or alfalfa hay, for periods averaging 90 days. The results are 

 also given from 4 stations at which 17 lots, including 1,180 lambs, 

 were fed a limited allowance of shelled corn (from 0.7 to 1.1 lbs. per 

 head daily) with the same roughages, in trials averaging 92 days. 



Corn and legume hay for fattening lambs 



Initial 

 Average ration weight 



Lbs. 

 Com allowance unlimited 

 Shelled corn, 1.3 lbs. 



Clover or alfalfa hay, 1.4 lbs 67 0.32 400 436 



Corn allowance limited 

 Shelled corn, 0.9 lb. 



Clover or alfalfa hay, 2.1 lbs 60 . 0.32 288 655 



The lambs given a full feed of corn consumed an average ration of 

 1.3 lbs. shelled corn and 1.4 lbs. clover or alfalfa hay and gained 0.32 

 lb. per head daily, requiring 400 lbs. shelled corn and 436 lbs. hay per 

 100 lbs. gain. The lambs getting the limited corn allowance ate 0.9 



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