4 
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station 
The question of the feeding value of alfalfa meal is one of much 
importance to farmer feeders, both those located close to established 
alfalfa mills and those contemplating the installment of reducing 
machinery upon their own farms or the use of portable mills, some 
being manufactured which are capable of doing custom work from 
farm to farm in the same way as a threshing outfit. As a result, in¬ 
quiries have come, both from farmers and from manufacturers, as 
to the merit of reducing alfalfa for use in feeding operations upon 
the farm where grown. The problem resolves itself into two questions : 
First, does the reduction of the hay result in a greater gain in live 
weight per ton of hay fed? Second, if so, does the extra gain more 
than offset the cost of reduction? Both of these questions should be 
kept clearly in mind in scrutinizing the experimental data. 
Lambs Used 
All lambs used in these experiments were range bred. In the 
1908-09 experiments, they were Hampshire-cross, Wyoming lambs. 
Lambs from the same flock were used in 1910-11. In 1909-10, southern 
lambs (Mexicans) from New Mexico were used. 
Methods 
The experimental work was started within a few days of the ar¬ 
rival of the lambs both the first and second winters. The third winter 
the lambs were brought up to one pound of grain per head per day be¬ 
fore being divided up for experiment. In all three seasons the lambs 
were kept on feed until finished, giving data for a sufficient length of 
time to gauge the merits of the rations used. 
The lambs were weighed every second week. The grain was fed 
whole and was weighed at every feeding, being fed twice a day. The 
hay was fed in self feeders, except where specified as fed on the 
ground. When a lamb died, one of approximately equal weight was 
put in to take its place, if available. Otherwise the weiglit and gain 
were figured on the basis of one less lamb. The character of the hay 
used will be noted under each experiment. 
FIRST SERIES, 1908-09. 
Loss Caused by Dogs. 
The lambs in this experiment were started November 14th. Dur¬ 
ing the seventh week of the experiment, dogs dug under the supposedly 
dog-proof fence and worried the lambs. The dogs were discovered 
at daylight and were then worrying the lambs in Lot II. Some of the 
lambs in Lot I were torn about the thighs and ears and a smallei 
number in Lot II were in the same condition. The lambs in Lot III 
were frightened but none were torn. This showed that the dogs at¬ 
tacked Lot I first and then passed into Lot II, and it is interesting to 
note in the following tables the loss in weight caused in the various 
lots. Observe the loss in weight for Lots I and II at the end of the 
eighth week 
