The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-03-26
and Mutton Improved
by New Feeding Methods

and alfalfa. Mill screenings being
comparatively cheap and quite album
dant in many parts Of the state, have
come. into rather common ISL in
some Of the important lamb feeding
Previous experiments have
shown that screenings produce eco
nOmical gains although the rate of
gain is not quite as great as when the
grain is fed. To make the gains as
nearly uniform as possible, the ration
fed to the lambs on wheat was cut
down. This was considered neces-
sary because the rate of gain is a
factor in determining the quality Of
the meat produced.
After the two lots had been fed for
approximately 80 days a lamb from
each lot was butchered and the meat
served at-a lamb dinner arranged at
the Experiment Station. Each person
at the dinner was served with a pOr-
ton of meat from each lamb but
knew nothing of the conditions un-
der which the different lambs were
fed. The guests were then asked to
record their opinions as to the flavor
Odor, texture, juiciness, tenderness
and general palatability of the two
portions Of the lamb. The decision
was unanimous in favor of the lamb
fed on wheat.
The lamb to which screenings had
been fed carried the ,unmistakable
flavors and OdOrs of certain weed
seeds which we're present in the
screenings and this lamb wa also
inferior in texture, juiciness and ten.
derness. An analysis, of the screen.
ings fed in the experiment showed
that they contained approximately
One-fourth wheat and thTee-fOurth'
weed seeds, consisting largely o.
fanweed, mustard, false flax and wilC
buckwheat. The results of the din
ner showed cO%nclusively that the
strong tastes and OdOTs of these
weeds are Transmitted to the mea
and that these tastes and orders arr
Objectionable to the consumer.
AS first planned it was though
that the results obtained would ter
inmate the experiment, and that mil
screenings containing strong weeC
seeds would have to be discarded a
a desirable feed for lambs. There
a possibility, however, that by chang
ing to other feeds the ObjectiOnabl
tastes and OdOrs may be eliminated
so the Experiment Station is cOntin
uing with the feeding test to deter
mine this point. The remainder 0
the lambs in the lot to which screen
ings had been fed are now ~receivin.
a full wheat and alfalfa ration an.
the feeding will be continued to Sc
what results are obtained.
If it is possible to remove the oh
IjectiOnable effects of the weed see
by changing the feed toward the clos
of the feeding period, the ExperimeI
Station points out that mill screeI
ings of the kind used in the test ma
find a place in the feeding program
If this result is not obtained, mi
screenings containing a high pereen
age of strong tasting and strOn
smelling weed seeds may have to I
discarded as unfit for lamb feedin
purposes.
The Experiment Station points OF
that the production of the highe;
possible quality of lamb is particula
ly important at this time, due to IL
fact that the increase in sheep make
it necessary to stimulate lamb an
mutton consumption in this cOuntr
To attract more consumers the mel
must have those characteristics whiC
are pleasing to the taste The produ
er must adapt his product to meet Il
demands of the consumer.