a . . | sae) oe | And Michigan Lambs ne | wri eel era etl Wee ae tae SS eas a aa —— = 4 a * 4 ta ’ ‘et ‘ ¢ re weer WO - THESIS — —_— SEHTI0R AGRICULTURAL THE STIS. = O iM Q oO tJ PARIS 0 rm WHESTERN AND MICHIGAN LAMBS. By “7 , Warien J. Geih. EO, Miecnigan Agricultural Collere. THESIS Introduce Sheep 1s one - ey a a. - a~ ~ 4 cs . 7 4. => liudustries cf this country. = Yo4 aa 4. Ve es ate ~~ ~ cet 3. Ci tive 0 UCC rg as Vs ead. as ult and swine, nave bent 4 a aaa PaA nt to produce perfect been atteined qe" y come ee e-tG56 woa le 3 For #1,@ :a9 - Who Cilily anid feedi: produce kg tO inerease the ale -~ produced from ana nota ‘ae BD WY wes wN ve a. so . 4. VL, 5 ar + bwe NAVE wNe oreca Ne encdc rs tO taxe at least ful selection and wreeding b tvpe whien snall conrorm o~ ce e™ 5-9 Cusr adi Ne 4 brzade class is a conmmarat i.* bUt Tew Who vin O ro 4 i1e7) - + Te ae. “y J. . . ~~ of StCai bye CUAL, aiid ar2 . 1 . a 4. i~a he Ut . GSacn a Wale. as uv Q {i2t Bite Den anivcls, in wpaly under capai le or 4.2 - LCLOM, eoders of cattle, every energy in their whic i ve S o> b~ 4 Tne sus 4. thou oP a ind is very 4.4% . ee whi LS a. u! ~ iG instrumental in sncould phe conseratuleved. aa ti oreeding ere cf g¢grcind. dG in anecp preauction ~ ee 4. mor suwvwUsari se or of 9 one uild up ier ownere cq: a? vend tie pr inci; ne: 28 selecting 40 - ae DK, u YoewuurLuSse 96394 7 c The second class is much Larger than the first and includes all those wiio paise snieep which are mot thorcughbreds. The sneep are bred and fed for oie WOOL and mutton they will produce and but litvle i. tacusyht is given to tne fancy points which are always considered by tre breeder of pure bred stock. Tue third class dces 1.6% include breeders at all but siigply those who bur sheep fer the purpese of c fitving tnham for marxet. They are not particularly intcrested in thorougnbreds, neither are they inter- ested vo a great extent in the breeding, of grade stock. jeir chief object is to secure «cod fFcecers at reasonable prices and by careful, economical feeding produce Gi article turat Will bring: tre nighest price ii the swerket, It has peen demonstraczed that certain Hs ii produce hretter feeders than otners, and in selecting stoek this ract is taken into consider- ation. The men who maxes a business of feeding does not attempt to raise tne standard of breeding; by engascing dn it himself. He may, hovever, demand a higher erace of sheep of tne men from whom he purchéses, and in this wav encourare more coreful breeding. It is to this last class that this experiment wWiil be of value. An attempt has been made to solve a problem which has never pefore heen so carefully ct considered by any of the experiment stations of the country. Objects of tie Mxperiment. Throuphout the state there @re many farmers who © acace in feeding lerbs for market during tre winter Onthks. Manyv of these lambs are brought from the 3 western ranjes to the Chicapo market, where tnose not fit for tre block are scold to t.e farners of neiphbor- ing states whe put them in proper condition. The Other lambs which «ere fed are native born, that is, ther are bred in tre state. A larfe number of both classes cf lainbs are fed every vear and the question rick confronts the farmer is tris. Is there a larger profit in feeding lambs from the west than there is ijn feeding home bred lambs. If there is any difference, even though it is smell, tre farmer shorvla know it. The first object of this exneriment then, is to coryare lambs from the two regions and thus answer this questi- on. The second object is to determine the relative value of several frain rations. Since there cre so many feriners or the -tete financially interested in the question of lamb feedin;, the writer has certeinly been justified in devoting considerable time to an exreriment which, it is hoped, will sclve this problem satisfactorily. Plen of the Fxreriment. The experiment vas ccnductcd in the frade herd barn at the Agricultural Collere. For the past two ~-4-. years this building has ben used as a sheep barn. A lot of twenty-five western Lambs was selected and placed in a pen in this barn. In a similar pen a lot of twenty-five Michigan lambs was placed. The two lots were fed and cared for in exactly the sam way throughout the exreriment. The experiment continued for ninety days during Which time three different grain rations were fed. For the first thirty days (Period I) the lambs were fed on whole corn and bran, mixed in the proportion of two pounds of cern to one pound of bran. One pound per dav ner lamb was fed curing this period. During the second thirty davs (Period II) the grain ration consisted of ccrnmeal and bran, mixed in the pfropcrtion of two pounds of cornmeal to one found of bran. One round per dav per lamb was fed during this period. For the third thirty davs (Period III) whole cats and bran were fed. The feed was mixed in the proporti-~ on of two pounds of oats to one pound of bran. The amount fed during this period was increased to one and one-half pounds per lamb per dav. As roughage the lambs received all the clover hay they would eat. No roots, silage or succulent feed of eny kind was given trem. The Llants were fed twice each day and watered three times. The grain was care- fully weighed ovt before each feed so that no more nor less than the proner amount was ever given. oO account was kept or the amount of hay given to eacn lot, but as the hey vas weighed before it was put into the bam, we xnow the whole amount eaten by boun Lots. The larbs were carefully weifhed tefore tre experi- ment peran and each Week thereafter. They were alsc weighed at tne close ot each period. For the first three Weexs tne Weishine a) was done on the larce stock scéles in the piggery but durinse the remainder of tne exneriment all tne lamhs were weiched separately on smell Buffalo scales. Tris last method was fcurid to be just eas accurate, as quickly and nearly as easily done as the first. The cnange was made because the large scales Were out of repair part of the time. Tables on tne rollowing; pares snow the gains which were made during tre exneriment. riistory and Breeding of the Lambs Used. -. — emt -——--.> the westerm le:itbs were purchased from Clay, Robinson & CO., OL Chicago. Trev were bred and raised on tne range oi Deneck and Wrisht of Gasper, Wvoning. Tney were drocied between the lst and 20th of May and at tne are of one montn Were trailed up the mountain to tre eleveaticn of 7000 ft. where thev remained until tire of shipment to Chica:o., These lambs, with others, were nurcrnased in Chica:o on October 7 and hrougint insediate-= dy co the CGilere., On their arrival they vera weirhed Ginned a The the west crors, then he quarters on nd pleeced in ,* owen fr ... a ~ rans used in from which erm lambs carie, Were from a Shropshire erino T 3 ne ewes Were Oreron Merinos. he lambs would about one quarter Skhronshire and three OT) OY RG - . }erino, ine Micnircan lambs Were bought from Frank Watson, a drover of Lansin;, lich. They were droj1ed between tre Loth of ywarch and tne lst April. They were nondescript Lammers! Llanos vith a pre- dominance or narpsnire blood. From tre tine tie laris arrived at the Collere, until th 4. UL » ure On 2 re -“_~ mtd "Tove: 4° e experiment beran they were xept in tre paste qtr ° ad Ted during this +6 a. ar ¥ Cu ad 77 -- e . « 110 erain ime es aber 560 the laris of both lots were weighed 4. no beran on of Dec. Is a e experims the morning Ue Prices of leed. The prices used in fipurinj; the cost of the feca 1Oor the experiment were as follovs: Bran Per ton, ye .O0 *Corn Meai per ton, £50.35 snelled corn per Lu. DO Oats per bu. oe Clover hav per ton, &6,00 *Two cents per bushel was adacd tc the price cf . cess | t ee lied cern to pay Tor tre srindirs. “ my* maw rs - 7) 4. m . wen, as sa ~ mw ; Jas . ° ine results Cr the experiment cre tabpuliuted in licwine tavles: cr a rly © mm a~ 7 = . ‘ a 74 t $a de 4 € aA. 6) 7-5. 7 fou 7 ye ~ ‘ ‘ LabdLe I.gives biG WEL AS oS vanen Cacn Wi:Ony, also -7 er on. Tr - aA ; -~ “\, «iy 8 _ co VA ie - tne Weekly cain or loss Gf gach jot. ° Table If gives the weish ~ veriod, the c~ 29 a) Cc a D ) C2 “ains for each pericd and tre averape weights of the lambs for each period, Yable IIJ srows a eGnrarison of cost in proaucirg ;ains on the two icts, Table IV fives t: ~ -- -- wy nn ee pre n Dice ol Weigu.t of Weekly pain'Weicnt of Weel Weagning "Mich. lambs ‘or loss west. lanhs'fain or ' ’ ' Nloss. _ oe occa i: Nov. 30, ' 1940 ' ' L577 ' t q q ’ Nec. 7; ' 2005 Ted ' L504 Pte ’ g g ! " 1é, ' £05k Po oe ' L655 r4Sl f q f z " a1, ' oUE.Q ' - 29 ’ L575 ' = OG t t q t n ait, ' L1G rl-115 ' 1776 F105 ? ' ? ? gan. 4, ' BLE 1 — 7 ' 1604 r+27 ? { q t " li, ' £196 Poe 7 ' 1795 r -& ? ’ f ! "1s, £509 't115 Po ASSES FP OTS c g t ? " RO y ' ood 1+ Te ' iSsel.s '+59 q ! g t Feb. 41, ' RodO,a ! 0.5 ' 1966.5 '+17 9 ? ? ? " B, ' 2064.5 ' 44a ' 2071 4102.5 g t ? t " Lo, ' 24 OG Popal es ' 2045 '— 28 ’ t t ? " a ' 24S7,5 "' + 71,0 ' £140.5 oui ! ’ t ? n 268, 2533 ' 4 55.5 Po 2146.5 ' eG = 2 -. —_— —-. > -—-e 2 - va * - > ses. 1... ~ —_ ~ ~ —— A.) ee vs... a > +a >X—o-—<—— —-— > Mu.cl 'Gains for'tAver. ‘Wt. of'Gain for ! cr. 4 t ‘ ‘ ‘ “ye ar 5 pat _ i «4: es ‘ @ ” Dete Of Mion. teach per-'weit. West. 'eacn per-'Aver. Weiehing'lauis ‘aca. ' Mlaacs.tiod. 'weirnt. PFT TT Te pre ~T “py a OPT Nov. 20 !' 1948 ! ' 77.9 Pe’? ' 57,7 ’ 8 1 1 ? ’ Nee. 30 ' 2167 ! 219 ' 66.6 re1L755 ' 178 Megs. { t ! ! 1 g Jon, 79 ' 2BPID ! LO ’ 91.5 ' 1958 ! 15S m7 75 ! ? t ' t ! Feb. 238 ' 2553 ! 243 "101.95 ' 2145.5 210.5 rey. t t f ' t ! t ’ ! i 4 ! rep re ee pe ee rere rp ene eee eee ej a ee ; - ' ' 5H ' r 671 LD ' ’ {7-7 ' TOSS TS Sa : ’ -~-10-- Table III. Michiran anos. ~ "Gregan ted 000 ' 'Sost of ' yor 1004 ' Gost of 1+ Periods ' Gains. ‘Grain fed.' cain. ' cain. ——< a 7 ms? . ae et 7 Tt eee Ee ee eee _ - a a _-_ -; ee ae I, r 219 1 oo7.41 ' 342.4 r 6.034 ! t f g Il. ' 12% r 7.585 ' 609.7 OSL t t 1 t TIT. ' 243 ' 15.125 1 451.7 054 eye q TSS Se eee eT TT ee eee ~— ' 585 526.12 ' 445,7 ' $.048 Western Laibs. EEE "! Grain fed ' ‘Cost of ' for 1004 ' Gost of i# Periods ' Gains. ‘Grain fed. ' fain ' ome “fr a | 1 -——_ =. —-— -» « Soe me en mee ee ee 2 ee om | os a $4 fund wa e I. ' 17s 1 $7.41 ' 421.3 r $.042 ! ' ' ! Ti. r 183 r 7.500 ' ~=—6.409.8 ' O41 ! ! ' ' TIE. ' €10.05 &* LS 125 ' 954.4 ' O62 en -ew oe - - oe -_ = -_- - oi p77 i hr -* ee ee ee ee” ee ee) r _> ~~ ool ' S7L.5 '8e25,12 ' 6457.5 r 8,49 ¢ -— eee ee oe - me ee —_ —-_ —~-;i-= 4 Table IV. a — -— ow eee —_ > wo ee oe ee. —_———_ a — ee oe ee ee eee ee ee eee ee wo rain Fed ' Gost of Feed. t ~~ ~ FT re ' '"Snelled ! ' ' ' Period! Bran ' corn "Hay Fed' Grain ‘Hay ' Total eee Cee . ’ t f t t t Ol © —_ ory 7 Y BEC LAL ! ? "500 ' 1000 *' 458002" "$14.82 '813.! ! ' q q t ' ' ' 'Ocrn Meal ' ' ' ? g ? ! q r 500 ’ 1000 ' 4500# ' 15.17 ' 15.50" 26.87 ? ? t t ? t t ? Oats ! ? g q t t ! g ? ’ ' 750 ' 1500 ' 4500 '25,.25 Yr 138.50! 39.74 Ter TTS Pe -—— 7 TT 7 Cost of feed for entire experiment $96.73 rProit a@ Suud: cY Fable I we find trav during tvo weeirs OF tne experiment beth lots Lost in weifrt. During tne week rer Nec. 25 to Jan. & the Micrican laris lost 74 and from Jun. 25 to Feb. 1 ther lost eos. From dan. 4th to Lith the western Llenhs lost 67 and from Feb. Sth to 15th tier lost 24, ane losses with the iichiran lombs might he attrihb- uted to tre cnange of feed. It will te neticed that whe Western lambs did not lose during tne weeks in which tre feeds were cranged but the pains were below the averace.,. It will also *a noticed *t74% tre vestern Lecis did now lose as riven Guring treir iwo weexs of failure as did the Michigan lants. The westerns lest but Sc7 wnile the Miehicans lost 46.44. On tee whole tie Mich- iron Lovts .atied 13.44 mcre than the western lavths. We weuld ecneluide from tris that tne western leanbs are bette: avie to stand a change cf csrain than are the miechicean. Also that the reirs of the westein Lambs, as large as Tor the *Mieniean liushs, are more Trom “euL& tsi we see t::at tne fe! are Ss O m:n ct Y 3 ry = ow — T fu. 7" Cu or © cr Oo ct © f+! "5 iv) cr mane during: tre lust period. This that tne ¢rain ration was increased from one to cne ane ove helf pounds per lamb per dey. By a careful study we find trat tne entire rain durine tre last period ct Wa S 26 iv rroportion to the extre grain fed. tw .e b- Foc the anount cor crain Ted t Ticnigan lemnbs made he hest rains when fed on wnole corm and tran; the T> owes we western Livaps when fed on eorn meal exd orean. From a study of Table III we find that the most economical gains were made by the Michiran lambs. Tatine tre whole ninety days there is but Littie diftfersnee hetveen tre two Lots, but for tre separate neriods there is a sreat difference. During the first period the Michiran lambs produced LOO# rain from 342,427 of grain. This was done ata cost of 3.47% per pound, not counting the cost of hay. The western lambs for tne same period produced 100“ pain for 421.34 of crain at 4.2¢ per pound, During the second period tre western lambs produced One nound of sain for two cents less than did tne Mich- jean lambs. Durincs the third period the Michifans produced a pound of gain for .8 cents less than the westerns. We would conclude from the firures given in this table that the Michifran lamtos produce better fains and do it more economically than the western iambs. Michirsan lambs do the hest when fed on wnole corn and bran; western lambs do the best when fed on corn meal and hran,. It must be remembered that the cost of tre hay is not considered in tnis farle because the amourt fed to eacn lot was not weiched separately. It is a fact, hovever, that the western Lambs did not eat quite as muca hay as the Micrigean lamnys. Since we do not know the exact Weights of the hay for each feed, we Gare not -~-l4-- P| ww av tnat trese conclusion are entirely wrong for the s difference hetwveen the tic lots was very slight Financiel Statement. Cost of Michigan lambs @ (4.35 ewt.--------+------564,74 Cost of feed for Michigan lanns--- ----------~----~--- 46,57 oe ee eee Total cost of Michigan lents-------- eee eee ee ee 133,11 Selling price of Michigan lambs @ %6,25 ewt.------150.31 Net gains for Michifgan Leuhs,---------- +--+ --- 825,20 Cost of Western lamhs @ $4.00 ewt.418.2 cents per head for transportation-- ---------------------S67.63 Cost of rsed for Vestern lambs---~---------- -22 7-7 748.57 Total cost of Western lambs,-----~ ~----- ----- ------ LI.56.00 Selling price of Wester lanbs @ £7.25 ewt pene 184 ,5E Net rain for Western lambps,----------------------- “18,28 At the close of this experimert the lambs were sold to a local butcher who had them sheared end then put on a f¢rain ration of corn meal and bran mixed in the same proncertion as in the experimont. 1$# per ler per day was fed. The Michiran lambs clipped 176#, an average of 7.047 per head. The western lumbs cliried 1257, an average of 4,92# ner head. rs —e i jw COnciusicn. From tne work of the experiment tne folloving » conelusions heéve been drawn. rae Calins I. Micnisan lambs make more econcmical when fed on whole corn and bran, than when fed on corn meal and bran or oats and bran. TI. Western lanhs make best gains when fed on corn meal and tren. Tie difference between this feed and whole corn and “ran bein very slight. e iif, Micnigan lanbs are more profitable feeders IV. Wrole corn and bhren makes a better grain retion for fseding lambs, tnan either corn meal and pran or oats and bran. It must be remembered that these conclusions have been drawn from a sinj;le experiment and that under different conditions the results might be different. As all. the work in connection with the experiment was carefully done, the writer does not hesitate in saying that the results are correct for the existing conditions. Warren J. 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