Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-24


tai work done to date has been in con-
nection with yard or shed feeding DUR
/ ing the fall and winter months. All in
Investigators agree that dry quarters
are abst ,utely necessary for success IN
this work. A warm place 10 not need
ed. The two principal factors consider.
ed have been the amount and kind OF
lroughage and the amount and kind OF
concentrates AS a rule the locality de-
|termines the kind Of roughage fed The
| question OF succulence in the ration
has also been given d great deal Of at
tention.
Roughase-Practic every form
of roughase has been tested. The
legumes are held in highest favor by
all Investigators. Glover has been most
generally used. In order to obtain the
best results clover should be grown
thickly on the ground to insure fine
stems, and should be cut early in order
to secure the leaves and heads, which
are the most valuable parts. Alfalfa,
where it can be successfully grown
| stands ahead Of even red clover. It is
| superior both from the standpoint Of
lpalatabilit-. and digestible nutrients
Good alfalfa not only furnishes thu
roughage necessary but also a consid-
cradle amount of nutrients especially
protein. In the south COW pea hay
stands on A par with alfalfa. When
furnished any of the above named
feeds lambs do not crave any other
form Of roughage. ss
Mixed hay Is also q useful feed. 1t
does not compare with the legumes
from either the standpoint Of palata-
bility or dEestible nutrients. Corn
fodder. which has grown thickly in the
rows, and has been cut early and carel
fully cured furnishes a much relished
form Of roughage. The lambs will eat
all Of the leaves and n portion of the
stalks.
Grain Rations.--All of the various
farm grains have been used with more
or less success. Corn easily heads the
Hist as the best single grain for fat
tening lambs. 1t is especially desirable
because it causes the lambs to put Oh
fat rapidly and does not stimulate too
much growth as in the case with many
forms of concentrated feeds Barley
has also been used to very good al.
vantage. 1t is about on par with
Fcorn from the standpoint Of rapidity
and economy of gains but lacks some
in palatability. Wheat and wheat
screenings have both been used to fai-
ten lambs. This feed has too much
tendency to cause the lambs to grow
rather than fatten. When combined
with an equal amount Of corn the
lambs put on fat much more rapidly.
Oats are a useful feed but like wheat
are more conducive to growth thnn
fattening thus should be mixed with
corn for best results. Oil meal, cotton
seed meal and gluten feed have all
been used In conjunction with corn ra-
tons to good advantage. Not more
than one-half pound Of either oil meal
or cottonseed meal should be fed to a
lamb Weighing from SO to 80 pounds.
While wheat bran in itself is not con-
ducive to putting on fat, it is one OF
the best feeding stuffs available to use
In conjunction with corn or other
feeds in getting lambs on full feed. 1t
furnishes bulk thus preventing the
greedy ones from getting too much
concentrates and also acts as a regu-
lator of the digestive system.
Succulent Feed.-It is always best.
If possible, to furnish some form Of
succulent feed This may be done
through the use Of either roots or corn
silage. The succulent feed seems to
tone the system and regulate the di-
gestive organs. The British fock-nlas-
ter used roots for this purpose In sorte
cases cabbage is used. The British
shepherd insists that sheep cannot be
successfully fattened without roots or
cabbage. Experiments at the leading
stations in this country indicate that
corn silage is fully as useful rs roots
for fattening lambs. The low cost Of
producing silage should lead to It's
more general use.
Getting Lambs on Feed.--A great
deal of time and feed are often lost
through carelessness on the part OF the
feeder in getting his lambs on feed. 1t
Is said that nowhere does the skill "
the attendant show up more plainly
than in getting the lambs on full
grain allowance without getting 4
Single one loft feed The amount fed
at first should be small. Lambs that
have not been accustomed to grain
should not receive more than one
tenth Of grain per day at the start.
This should be increased at the rate CT
one-tenth every third day until the
full allowance has been reached. Some
wheat bran added to the regular grain
ration will prove very helpful during
the first thirty days Of the feeding per
iod. The lambs should be fed at regu-
lar hours and the trOughs should al
ways be kept clean
Amount OF Feed and Rate Of CAIN
The amount Of feed fed will vary some
in accordance with the kind of rough
age and also as to whether or not
succulent feed is used. AS a general
rule lambs weighing from so to go
pounds each will eat from 8 to 2
pounds OF grain and from I to
pounds of hay per day. Where silage
or roots are fed the amount of hay
will be somewhat less but the total dry
matter somewhat more que 10 the ln-
crea sing, palatabiitv of the ration.
Lambs Of the above weights will gain
from .25 to so Of a poun6 per day.
From 3S to a Of pound per day
should be considered as very satisfac-
tory gains.
The following ratiohs have given
good results for lambs on full feed
weighing from 50 to 30 pounds each.
Ration 1.--Alfalfa hay one-f1fth
pound, corn meal 1.s pounds, daily
gain. .36 ID.
Ration Cow pea hay 1.5 pounds,
corn meal 1.6 pounds, daily gain 81 Id.
Ration Corn slower pounds. al
falfa hay Z pound, corn meal IL
pounds and cottonseed meal a pounds.
daily gain "a lib.
Ration Alfalfa hay Ii pounds.
shelled corn Ia pounds, daily gain
so Id.
Ration 5.-Alfalfa hay Ia pounds,
wet beet pulp 3.S pounds and wheat
screenings and bran IS pound, daily
rain 33 Id.
Ration e.-Alfalfa hay 1.s pounds.
corn silage Ia pounds and mixture
of corn. oats and bran pounds, daily
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