The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-01-16

feeding would produce, but that the
ewes were in good condition to pro-
duce strong, vigorous lambs. 1t was
noticeable fact that right straight
through the whole three years, the
lambs from the ewes having the succu-
lent feed, /. e., silage, averaged nearly
10 per cent larger at birth. AS to the
cost of feed, the ration including
silage proved the more economical,
while more satisfactory results were
obtained. The lambs from these two
lots of ewes were all fed out for an
early market and those from each lot
did equally well, gaining nearly hall
pound per day until they were sold
The general results of this test rum
ming for three years show definitely
that the use of silage for ewes. even
in large amounts, will not interfere
with the health and thrift of the preg'
nant eve nor of her prospective
lamb Also, the succulence which the
silage affords seemed to promote the
thrift and general health Of the eve.
and because of the added health and
vigor, the foeti were better nourished,
with the consequent result that larg-
er lambs were produced. Furthermore
the producing Of all these satisfactory
results did not affect the lambs I'M
favorably. and the silage ration was
more economical.
Accurate data regarding the value
of silage in ration for fatten1ng
sheep and lambs is scarce, but what
there is indicates that it is useful. AS
far back as the early nineties the
Michigan experiment station fed some
lambs on silage and other foodstuffs.
The gist of their findings is to the
effect that a mixture Of folders COM
posed largely Of good quality OF
silage proved a cheap and successful
ration for fattening lambs.
The Iowa station at Ames made
some comparative tests of dry hays.
roots, and silage as roughness in 1906
and 1907. In lots fed the first winter,
the silage cheapened the ration con-
siderably. During the second winter
the various lots were fed for long
period, 1853 days, and the silage lot
refused to eat much silage. They ate
almost as much grain and hay as the
other lots did and the gain on these
silage lambs was more expensive than
was that with some of the other food
combinations. But the average of the
two years was favorable to the use of
silage as a means of cheapening the
ration. The lambs from all lots fin
ished into market toppers, but the
dressed carcasses showed the silage
lambs a little superior on the hook.
Taking these few experiments then
into consideration, and also the gen.
eral results which various feeders
have obtained in practical work, 1t
seems that silage has an important
place among desirable and economical!
feeds for fattening sheep.
It is my opinion that silage can be
fed to sheep with satisfactory results.
The use of moldy or frozen silage may
cause trouble, but good, clean, bright
silage can be used with excellent re-
suits. either as a succulent food for
| breeding ewes in winter or as a cheap
but satisfactory and efficient roughage
for fattening lambs and sheep. This
| opinion is based partially on observa'
| lions of flocks which have been fed
and partially on the experiments
quoted above. The results to date
| point toward silage as a cheap and
| valuable feed for sheep.