Investiffotions with Sheep. 



487 



trial reported Is by Hayes of the Minnesota Station. * Ten Nortli 

 Dakota half-bred Shropshire lambs were fed in opposition to ten 

 Montana two-year-old grade Merino wethers. The feed consisted 

 of wheat screenings and hay, the trial lasting eighty-four dnys, 

 with resnlts given below: 



Feeding lambs in opposition to mature wethers — Minnesota Station. 



We observe that the lambs gave the usnal returns from wheat 

 screenings and made satisfactory gains. On the other hand, 

 the wethers gained only one-fifth of a pound per day, and con- 

 sumed 70 per cent, more grain for a given gain than the lambs. 

 Possibly when more trials are on record, the feeding qualities of 

 lambs and mature sheep will show less difference than in this 

 sase; but it is well known that young animals give the best 

 returns for feed consumed. 



745. Iowa Station breed test. — The most extensive breed test 

 conducted in this country was at the Iowa Station ^ by Wilson 

 and Curtiss. In the first trial there were ten wether lambs in 

 each lot, most of which were selected in Canada especially for 

 the trial. The Merinos in the first trial were of the National 

 Delaine strain, raised in Iowa. The Eange lambs were from 

 Wyoming. In the second trial there were nine lambs in each lot, 

 mostly from Canada. The Merinos in this trial were of the 

 Rambouillet strain, bred in Ohio. In the first trial the feeding 

 lasted ninety days and in the second one hundred and five days, 

 and was alike in all particulars for each lot. In closing the ex- 

 periment the lambs were shipped to Chicago and there valued by 



'Rept. 1893. 

 'Bills. 33,36. 



