- 43 - 
Four combinations of feed were used: wheat and alfalfa, corn and 
alfalfa, beets and alfalfa, wheat, beets, and alfalfa. 
It is necessary to consider the results both from the side of growth, 
which made the fastest growth, and from the money standpoint, which 
made the cheapest growth. The test lasted ninety-eight days, and the 
separate feeding records have already been given. They are summar¬ 
ized below: 
FEEDING RECORD DECEMBER 13 TO MARCH 20. 
Pen 1, 
Pen 2, 
Pen 3, 
Pen 4, 
Hay. 
Wheat. 
Corn. 
Beets. 
Hay per day 
Total digestible 
per head. 
per day per head. 
5009 
980 
8150 
2.55 
2.32 
6139 
1315 
3.13 
2.05 
5682 
1315 
2.90 
1.92 
4728 
9792 
2.41 
2.03 
Total, 21558 2295 1315 17942 2.75 2.08 
The average feed per sheep for the 98 days was 270 pounds of 
alfalfa, 46 pounds of grain, and 224 pounds of beets, at a cost per head 
of |1.34. The average gain was 31 pouuds, at a food cost of 4.3 cents 
per pound of gain in live weight. 
The palatability of the food as evidenced by the amount eaten, seems 
to be the governing factor in regard to the rapidity of growth. The 
larger the amount eaten, the more the gain. This is shown in the fol¬ 
lowing table: 
GAIN IN WEIGHT AND COST OF GAIN PER POUND. 
Pounds digesti- 
Total 
Gain in 
ble to one lb. 
Cost of 
Cost of gain 
Feed. 
digestible. 
Live Weight. 
of gain. 
food. 
per pound. 
Wheat and Beets, 4541 
661 
6.9 
$33.71 
5.1c. 
Wheat, 
4020 
640 
6.3 
21.86 
3.4 
Corn, 
3802 
575 
6.6 
22.42 
3.9 
Beets, 
3970 
607 
6.5 
29.14 
4.8 
Average, 
4083 
614 
6.6 
26.78 
4.3 
The gains in live weight do not differ much, scarcely enough to be 
detected by the eye. The extremes differ about 15 per cent., but even 
this difference might change loss to profit. The sheep that ate the 
most gained the most without exception; but it does not follow that 
those that grew the fastest required the least food to make a pound of 
growth or made the cheapest growth. There is but little difference in 
the amount of food required for each pound of growth. The ones that 
grew the fastest, ate the most for each pound of growth, and the ones 
that grew the slowest required the next largest amount. 
The governing factor in the cost of the growth is the amount of 
beets eaten. The beets were valued at $4 per ton, the same as alfalfa. 
This is much too high if the relative feeding values of the two are to be 
taken in to account, but it is closely correct if the cost of production is 
made the basis of comparison. 
