Feeding Experiments With Lambs 
13 
discourage their use where needed. But statements to the effect that 
there is a 50% greater feeding value in alfalfa meal than in the hay 
from which the meal was made are not well founded. Experiments at 
this Station in 1902 (Bulletin 75, p. 9) show that 28 per cent of 
alfalfa hay fed to lambs was uneaten. This means that if the rejected 
stems were of the same value as the rest of the hay, not more than one- 
third greater feeding value could be secured by their consumption; 
while because of the large amount of crude fiber in the coarser stems, 
they do not possess nearly the feeding value of the rest of the hay. 
In addition to the closer consumption of the coarse parts of hay, some¬ 
thing is gained in saving the energy used in mastication of uncut hay. 
Reducing the hay undoubtedly adds to its value, the increased value 
being somewhat proportionate to the fineness of reduction; but the 
greatest possible increase in value, with finest reduction 
probably is not over 40 per cent of the value of the whole hay. With 
ordinary grades of hay, and typical fineness of reduction, the feeder 
may ordinarily figure on 15 to 25 percent increase in value. 
APPENDIX 
BI-WEEKLY DATA. ALFALFA HAY (WHOLE), SCOTCH BARLEY 
December 18, 1909—March 26, 1910 
LOT 1. (125 Lambs in Lot) 
FEED 
Period 
Weight 
Gain 
Average gain 
Alfalfa 
per head 
Hay (whole) 
Barley 
Beginning 
8765 
2nd Week 
8970 
205 
1.64 
880 
4th 
8890 
—80 
— .64 
980 
6th 
9750 
860 
6.88 
1568 
8th 
10355 
605 
4.84 
1960 
10th 
11015 
660 
5.28 
1960 
12th 
11605 
590 
4.72 
1960 
14th 
12430 
825 
6.60 
1960 
Total 
3665 
29.32 
31498 
11268 
BI-WEEKLY DATA, 
, ALFALFA 
HAY (CHOPPED), CORN 
December 18, 1909— 
March 26, 1910 
LOT 11. 
(125 Lambs 
in Lot ) 
FEED 
A 
Period 
Weight 
Gain 
Average Gain 
Alfalfa Hay 
V 
Corn 
per head 
(chopped) 
Beginning 
8765 
2nd Week 
9260 
495 
3.96 
880 
4th 
9395 
135 
1.08 
980 
6th 
10015 
620 
4.96 
1568 
8th 
10655 
640 
5.12 
1960 
10th 
11275 
620 
4.96 
1960 
12th 
12175 
900 
7.20 
1960 
14th 
12530 
355 
2.84 
1960 
Total 
3765 
30.12 
34175 
11268 
