The Saint Paul globe., 1898-07-13

The Minnesota university experiment s,a-
ton las issued Bulletin No. 81, DIVISION
OF Animal Husbandry, ard treats OF the
general subject CT fattening lambs in winter.
The report is prepared by Prof Thomas
Shaw, and covers the experiments made IN
1895. 1896 and 1887. Regarding the latest ex-
pertinent Prof Shaw says:
The prepai atory expe iment began Nov. /,
1897; the experiment proper on Nov. ., eno :,
ing Feb. 2S 1858, thus covering a period OF
sixteen weeks, or l12 days. But the LAMBS
were continued on fun faed until Maich IL,
the date of delivery for slaughter. The
whole feeding period, therefore, covered a
period of 1912 days.
Among the primary objects of the expert
ment were. l. To ascertain the suitability
of range lambs for being fed under what
may be termed ordinary farm coadi ions. 2.
To ascertain the relative adaptation in iced
ing lambs on certain combinations of gram
foods such as are easily accessible TO the
farmer; and, g. to ascertain the profit. If
any, from feeding range lambs under what
may be termed ordinary Minnesota condl-
tions.
The secondary objects sought were:. l.
The relative resulting increase in weight
from feeding the foods used in the expert
ment. 2. The relative cost of one pound
of increase in weight received; and, 3. the
probable duration of the period during which
Lambs may be fed profitably on such foods.
In brief the experiment sought to confirm
the results obtained the preceding w,nt5r
from feeding range lambs
There were 12O grade lambs of various
blocd elements fed They possessed indica-
tions of Merino and Oxford Down strains.
They were purchased at Culbertsen, Mon
tana. In selecting them, uniformity in S ze
and shape was sought rather than size
Those put into the experiment averaged
6c.4 pounds: They We're divided into four
lots, with thirty in each lot. The lambs in
each lot occupied separate apartments in e
shed. These were side by side, and on the
north sde of the building, which was prob
ably somewhat against the experiment
Each compartment was in size, 1Sx20 feet
and each opened by means of a double
hinged door into an open yard of similar
dimensions. They had access at will to tie
yards, except in stormy and windy weather
The sheds and yards were kept nicely b. d.
ded. The lambs were all wethers, hence TIE
conditions OF the experiment were very even
Each lamb was weighed singly at the com-
meneement of the preparatory experiment at
the beginning of the experiment proper, and
every touTteen days subsequently, until sent
TO the block. They had access to water
virtually at will, which was given to them
IN pals. Common salt was also kept acces-
slSle 10 them at all times.
In lot 1 they were given oil cake wheat
bran and oats in the proportions of l, 2. 5
ana 4 parts respectively, by weight In lot
Z, OIL cake, bran barley and oats in similar
proportions. In lot 8 they were given bran
oats and barley in the proportions of g. and
parts; and in lot 4. oil cake. bran and
oats, in the proportions of l. and parts
The fodder given was mixed hay clover pre-
dominating in the mixture and sorghum en-
sllage The ensilage made from sorghum
grown thickly and cut when approaching
the mature stage. The sorghum was not
fed until Dec. rs, and 1t was continued until
the lambs We're sold.
As the fodder fed to each lot was the same
In kind, the experiment sought to ascertain
the respective values of corn with oil cake
barley with and without oil cake. and oats
with the same, for fattening lambs. The
grain was fed unground, and the oil cake
was given in the pea" FORM The lambs
were virtually given all of each kind of
food that they would eat with a relish The
hay was fed uncut The grain and hay were
fed in two feeds, morning and evening, and
the ensilcge was given in the evening only.
The food was charged at the average mar
place of sale. Though these values were
based on careful estimates, they are to be
regarded only as close approximations. They
fixed the prices of the respective kinds of
food as follows:
Oh cake, per ton ........ ..............$ $22 90
Wheat bran per ton ........ ........... so
Corn, per blu OF So lbs %
Barley, per bu of 4S lbs 500. ........ 20
Oats, per bu OF 80 lbs ........ ........ II
Mixed hay, clover and timothy, per ton. 4 90
Sorghum ensilage, per ton ...... ........ l 20
With some of the food products these val
ues were less than the prices actually paid at
the station. Corn. for instance, which was
tion 251ac. In other instances the price
charged was in excess of the price paid
Bran, which was charged at $3.50 per ton
actually cost the station but $3.50 per ton
II had been bought some time previously
but the necessity for using average prices for
the state will be apparent.
folIon,J,r 1x;rx.. Al.