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 running 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. 
