FEEDS FOR SHEEP 343 



III. Succulent Feeds 



Roots. — Roots, silage, pasture and other succulent feeds are ex- 

 ceedingly beneficial to the flock because of their tonic and regulative 

 effect. Roots are universally fed in large amounts to sheep in Great 

 Britain, famed for mutton of the highest quality. While even lambs 

 are sometimes there fed over 20 lbs. of roots per head daily, in this 

 country it is not ordinarily profitable to feed over 4 or 5 lbs., and 

 even half this much, preferably pulped or sliced, will furnish the 

 needed succulence in the ration. 



Averaging the results for 5 trials in which roots have been added 

 to a well-balanced ration of grain and alfalfa, clover, or mixed clover 

 and timothy hay, we find that the lambs fed roots (3.7 lbs. per head 

 daily) gained 22 per ct. more than those fed no roots. In these 

 trials 1 ton of roots replaced 174 lbs. of grain and 355 lbs. of hay. 



At the Iowa Station 8 sugar beets ranked first in amount and 

 economy of gain, with mangels second, and turnips third. Since 

 mangels and sugar beets when fed to sheep tend to produce calculi, 

 or stones, in the kidneys or bladder, which are dangerous in the case 

 of rams and wethers, these roots should not be fed to males for 

 long periods. In the Iowa trials rams died after being fed on 

 rations containing 4.4 lbs. of sugar beets or mangels for 5 to 6 

 months. Ewes are not so affected. 



Corn silage. — Trials by American stations show that in most 

 parts of this country corn silage is as satisfactory and usually a 

 much more economical succulent feed than roots. In 2 trials lambs 

 fed corn silage, hay, and concentrates made as large gains as others fed 

 roots, hay, and concentrates; in 1 trial, larger gains; and in 4 trials, 

 somewhat smaller gains. On the average the lambs fed roots gained 

 only 0.02 lb. more per head daily than those fed corn silage. Due 

 to the more watery nature of the roots, 1,000 lbs. of silage replaced 

 1,449 lbs. of roots. 



The value of corn silage for fattening lambs is well shown in the 

 following table, which summarizes 7 trials in which it was added to 

 the already excellent ration of clover hay and shelled corn: 



Value of com silage when added to well-balanced ration 



Average ration 



Lot I 



Corn silage, 1.4 lbs. 

 Clover hay, 0.9 lb. 



Shelled corn, 1.2 lbs 62 0.326 360 284 425 



Lot II 



Clover hay, 1.5 lbs. 

 Shelled corn, 1.3 lbs 62 0.323 394 471 



s Kennedy, Eobbins and Kildee, Iowa Bui. 110. 



