IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
329 
The sheep offspring table follows : 
IAMBS' BORN OF DIFFERENTLY FED EWES 1 . 
Twelve ewes of various ages,* in a lot— 1911-12. 
Ewe Record 
Offspring Record 
Pregnancy Ration 
of Ewes 
Av. Daily 
Gain 
Lbs. 
Feed Daily 
Av. No. 
Lambs to 
a Ewe 
Av. Wt. 
new born 
Lambs Lbs. 
Vigor 
Shelled 
Corn 
© 
$r 
60 w 
3 p 
M 
Strong 
Medium 
as 
s 
Dead 
Corn + Clover— 
.231 
.802 
2.91 
1.67 
6.58 
60 
30 
5 
5 
Com + Alfalfa.. 
.253 
.799 
2.71 
1.75 
7.91 
85 
5 
5 
5 
11.7401. 
Corn + Clover + Silage 
.225 
.587 
j2.88Sil. 
1.67 
7.44 
SO 
20 
0 
0 
Corn + Silage 
.237 
1.021 
4.72 
1.33 
8.36 
81 
19 
0 
0 
*Age and breeding uniform for each lot. 
It is well to call attention to the small number of offspring per ewe in 
the com silage lot which contributes largely to the increased size of the 
young. Had this lot lambed as many individuals per ewe as the first 
three mentioned the results would have been problematically different. 
However, one notices that where silage is added in addition to clover that 
the vigor and size of the offspring is increased, whereas alfalfa as com- 
pared to clover (alfalfa is richer in protein and ash than is clover) pro- 
duced the strongest and largest lambs even though there were more of 
them. 
In general, therefore, the results on the ewes are in accord with those 
on the sows with the exception that they are not so marked. I might 
say, however, that the present season’s lambing record shows quite clearly 
that cottonseed meal added to corn and corn silage increases the strength 
as well as the size of the offspring. Cottonseed meal contains 41% of 
protein. 
The results of these animal husbandry experiments which show quite 
clearly that protein and ash when added to the ration are instrumental, 
especially the former, in increasing the size, fatness, strength, bone and 
coats of the offspring will be studied by medical men our correspondence 
affirms. One of our American obstetricians, Dr. J. B. De Lee of the 
Northwestern University Medical School, has signified his intention of 
carrying on some experiments along this same line in connection with his 
human practice. That flock masters and hogmen generally are interested 
in the production of strong, vigorous new-born individuals, the kind that 
will live and thrive, is self-evident. 
