Feeding Lambs. Illinois Farms

Transcription

1 Feeding Lambs --on Illinois Farms By w. G. KAMMLADE CIRCULAR 413 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRI CULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

2 ,.-.-. _1 T HE ESSENTIAL points in buying feeder lambs and fattening them for market are outlined in this circular. The general information that is given is designed mainly for farmers relatively unfamiliar with the lambfeeding enterprise. The results of feeding tests with common Illinois farm feeds will be of interest to experienced feeders. Anyone who undertakes to feed lambs will find that careful planning is necessary if the enterprise is to be carried thru success(~lly. The suggestions that are made will therefore need to be applied with good judgment and thought, for methods of feeding and management suitable to a particular' farm and to one's financial resources must be developed. Finally it is to be remembered that no matter how complete the directions are for carrying on the enterprise, the skill and discretion of the feeder remain as factors of heavy consequence. CONTENTS Purchasing Feeder Lambs... 4 Do Not Overlook Simple Things 13 Price Considerations... 7 Feeding Lambs in Fields Shipping Feeder Lambs Drylot Feeding to Farm Guard Against Excessive Keep Lambs Gaining Marketing the Fattened Death Losses Lambs Urbana, Illinois November, 1933 Printed in furtherance of the Agricultural Extension Act approved by Congress May 8, H. W. MUMFORD, Director, Agricultural Extension Service, University of Illinois.

3 Feeding Lanlbs on Illinois Farms By W. G. KAMMLADE, Assistant Professor of Sheep Husbandry E ACH YEAR several hundred thousand lambs from the western ranges go into Illinois feedlots and pastures. Many Illinois farmers apparently find lamb feeding a profitable way of disposing of at least part of their grains and roughages and a significant help in maintaining soil fertility. Successful feeding calls for discriminating buying and selling, the intelligent and economical use of feeds, and the management of the lambs in such a way as to avoid severe death losses. It is a drastic change from the high, sunny, open ranges of the west, where lambs FIG. l.-black-faced FEEDER LAMBS FROM IDAHO This group of lambs is typical of thousands of black-faced lambs fed in Illinois 'each year. Note their uniformity in size and condition and their general appearance of good health and vitality. feed with their mothers on green vegetation exclusively, to corn-belt feedlots, where their opportunity for exercise is limited and the character of their feed completely altered. To withstand such a change tests the vitality of the lambs and the skill of the feeder. Fairly definite plans for taking care of the lambs should therefore be made before they are ordered, and only as many purchased as can be accommodated on the farm and can be suitably fed with the feeds on "hand or obtainable. Beginners in lamb feeding sometimes buy several hundred lambs and then wonder what to do with them after they arrive at the farm. 3

4 4 CIRCULAR 413 PURCHASING F EE DER LAMBS What to Look For in Feeder Lambs There is more to purchasing feeder lambs than merely getting enough to make a car or a truck load. Health, constitution, weight, quality, condition, form, fleece, breeding, and previous handling are all to be considered. Uniformity is also important. If one is not able to appraise these features in a group of lambs, the advice of a reliable and competent buyer should be obtained. Health and Constitution.-Good health and constitution are absolute requirements if lambs are to withstand heavy feeding and the hardships frequently met in shipmenf and in the fields or feedlots. A top price for feeder lambs is justified only if there is reasonable assurance that they can be developed into top-priced fat lambs. Lambs that appear to ' be so lacking in constitution or health as to be susceptible to disease or likely to fail to thrive unless very carefully fed and handled must be purchased at a significant discount if a heavy financial risk is to be avoided. Weight. - Weight is an important factor in determining prices offered for fat lambs. The purchaser of feeders must therefore take weight into consideration when deciding what he can pay for them. For most feeders lambs weighing 55 to 65 pounds are usually most suitable, for lambs of this weight finish in reasonable time and will weigh 85 to 90 pounds when ready for market. Heavy feeder lambs (70 to 75 pounds) that are very thin are not so satisfactory as those of lighter weight; they are likely to be too heavy if fed for a normal period, or to lack finish if returned to market at weights of 85 to 90 pounds. Lightweight lambs (45 to 55 pounds), altho not available in great numbers, are satisfactory for rather long feeding, and if of good quality can be developed into choice fat lambs. Lambs of this kind are often shorn before being sent to market by the feeder, especially if wool is bringing a good price. Quality, Condition, and Form.-In feeder lambs quality, condition, and form vary greatly. The most satisfactory lambs are those showing good general quality. Such lambs are free from coarseness, paunchiness, and peltiness (wrinkles or folds in the skin). Lambs with a moderate amount of condition (fat) are preferable to very thin lambs. Moderately low-set lambs, compact, wide, deep, and straight-lined not only make the most satisfactory gains and attain the best finish, but sell for the highest prices when finished. Fleecing.-For field feeding, tight-fleeced lambs are preferable to those with shaggy coats, for a tight fleece gives more protection than a

5 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 5 FIG. 2.-A GooD GRADE OF FEEDER LAMB OF LIGHT-PELTED FINE-WOOL TYPE Note freedom from wrinkles and evenness of lines, indicating good mutton qualities. This lamb was sired by a Rambouillet. FIG. 3.-A GOOD GRADE OF FEEDER LAMB FROM A HAMPSHIRE SIRE Of somewhat different type from the lamb shown in Fig. 2, this lamb has a coarser fleece and more pronounced mutton qualities. Feeder lambs of the types here illustrated develop into choice fat lambs when rightly handled.

6 6 CIRCULAR 413 loose one. Densely fleeced lambs are also more attractive and have a better "touch" when handled for finish, or amount of fat. Shaggycoated lambs are not likely to attain a hard, thick finish. Breeding.-Feeders often specify that the lambs they purchase be either black-faced or white-faced, preferring the breeding that is rep _ resented by one color or the other. Practically all lambs from the western ranges carry some fine-wool blood, especially that of the Rambouillet, which is a white-faced breed with fair mutton qualities. The percentage of such breeding varies greatly. Fine-wool lambs that are free from large wrinkles and are of good type often do well in feedlots. It is best to avoid those that are very wrinkly and uneven in their lines. Many white-faced lambs from the range states are a combination of Rambouillet and Lincoln breeding or Rambouillet and Cotswold. These are satisfactory feeders also. Many Illinois feeders prefer lambs carrying about 50 percent blackfaced mutton breeding because such lambs are thought to make faster gains than lambs of fine-wool ancestry. The face color of these lambs varies from a grayish-white with some brown spots to complete black. Most of the black-faced range lambs are sired by Hampshire rams, altho some rams of the Suffolk breed are used in range areas. Tests have shown that there is little or no difference in the gaining qualities of black- and white-faced lambs of comparable quality and conformation. Standard Grades of Feeder Lambs The above features, together with uniformity, or evenness, are the chief ones considered in placing feeder lambs in the various market grades. Lambs possessing all these desirable features to a very high degree are known as choice feeders. As desirability in one or more respects declines, the lambs are designated as good, fair, or medium, and common or inferior feeders. The lower grades of feeder lambs are not likely to develop into the higher grades of fat lambs and hence should be bought at a discount from the price of the best feeders. Feeder Should Know Where Lambs Were Grown The region from which feeder lambs come is important, as well as the way in which they have been handled. Climatic conditions and the prevalence of internal parasites vary greatly in the range sheep areas. Internal parasites were formerly troublesome to sheep only in the central and southern states, but within recent years they have become a serious problem in the southwestern range areas also. Because of more favorable climate and less likelihood of internal parasites in the northwestern areas, some feeders prefer lambs from that section. Lambs from the northwestern sections

7 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 7 also become acclimated to Illinois conditions more quickly than do those from the southwest. Experienced feeders dislike to purchase lambs from extreme drouth areas because the lambs are lacking in vitality due to a shortage of feed. Many feeders will not take lambs that have been on feed for some time in another feedlot unless they can be had at a discount, as later gains are often expensive. Feeders who purchase native lambs should know that such lambs need medicinal treatment to remove internal parasites, and that death losses are likely to be greater than in most lots of range lambs. When given proper treatment and carefully fed, however, native lambs have proved satisfactory to some feeders. Lambs Are Obtainable From Various Markets Noone market has a monopoly on feeder lambs, and feeders should make their purchases wherever they can obtain the best value. While it is advisable for a feeder to see the lambs he considers buying before he purchases them, it is seldom necessary to take expensive trips to buy one or two decks, for the services of w:ell-qualified, reliable buyers may be obtained on all markets. Lambs may also be purchased thru cooperative agencies or dealers direct from growers in the West. Disappointments sometimes result when lambs are purchased that have been held in a central market for several days, as such lambs are likely to shrink heavily during shipment from market to feedlot. Permit for "Transit" Feeding" Saves Freight Many railroads offer feeders the privilege of billing lambs on a thru bill of lading from the place where purchased to the market where they will be sold, with a provision "for feeding in transit" for a more or less definite period. This matter should be taken up with the local agent of the railroad before purchases are made, as substantial savings in freight charges can often be made in this way. PRICE CONSIDERATIONS Margin Necessary Between Buying and Selling Prices Lambs weighing 60 pounds when purchased are often sold at 90 pounds. With their initial weight representing two-thirds of their final weight, it is easy to understand why the margin, or spread, between the price per hundred at which lambs are bought and the price at which they are sold is generally the most important single factor in determining profit. The necessity for care in buying is also clear from the fact that the

8 8 CIRCULAR 413 original cost of feeder lambs generally represents 50 to 70 percent of the total cost of lamb feeding. A mistake in judgment as to the value of the lambs may result in severe financial loss. Margin Above Feed Costs Also Important N ext to the original cost of feeder lambs, the cost of their feed is the most important item, for it constitutes 20 to 40 percent of the total cost of the feeding enterprise. The feeder should therefore strive for a margin above feed costs also. If all the feed costs are charged against the gain in weight and none against maintenance of the original weight, then a margin over feed costs for lambs bought at 60 pounds and sold at 90 pounds would represent a margin on 30 pounds. A margin over purchase price would represent a margin on 60 pounds. Thus a given margin over feed costs is about half as important as the same margin over the purchase price on the original weight. It is from these margins - on feed and original weight - that all expenses must be paid and a profit obtained. The following simple illustrations will make the above clearer to the inexperienced: 1. A margin of 2 cents a pound over cost of gain Cost of 60-pound feeder lamb at $6 a hundredweight $3.60 Feed cost of 30 pounds of gain at 4 a pound Total lamb and feed costs...$4.80 Sale value of 90-pound lamb at $6 a hundredweight Margin to cover other expenses and profit....$ A margin of 2 cents a pound over purchase pric,e Cost of 60-pound feeder lamb at $4 a hundredweight....$2.40 Feed cost of 30 pounds of gain at 6 a pound Total lamb and feed costs...$4.20 Sale value of 90-pound lamb at $6 a hundredweight Margin to cover other expenses and profit $ A margin of 2 cents a pound over both purchase price and cost of gain Cost of 60-pound feeder lamb at $6 a hundredweight....$3.60 Feed cost of 30 pounds of gain at 6 a pound Total lamb and feed costs...$5.40 Sale value of 90-pound lamb at $8 a hundredweight Margin to cover other expenses and profit $1.80 Past Price Trends Not Exclusive Basis for Deciding on Feeding Operations Lamb feeding is done mostly in the fall and winter months. Prices for lambs usually decline in the fall and then tend to become higher in January, February, and March. There is no assurance, however, that prices will decline and rise in just the same way each year, and feeders should therefore plan their purchases and marketings mainly to suit the system of feeding they use and the conditions under which they

9 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARM S 9 operate rather than to attempt to base their feeding operations wholly on seasonal price trends in the past. Undoubtedly one of the most satisfactory ways to conduct the lamb-feeding enterprise is to make it a definite part of the farm scheme and include it in each year's farm operations. Trying to "hit it right" for good years, and staying out other years is often disastrous and does not contribute to any definite development of the farm. For field feeding, lambs must be purchased early in the fall; but for drylot feeding during the winter they may be bought over a considerable period of the fall and winter. A number of agencies furnish information about the supplies of feeder and fat lambs that will probably be available during stated times. Many feeders use this information as a guide in making purchases. Occasionally someone asks about feeding lambs on pasture during June and July. Feeding during those months is likely to be unwise because few feeder lambs are available and prices are likely to be higher than in the fall when the lambs are ready for market. Also, lambs often do not do well during the hot summer months. It is better to let the pastures grow during early and midsummer and use them during the late summer or fall when more feeder lambs are available and market conditions are generally more favorable to the feeder. A normal feeding period for fattening lambs is about 80 to 120 days, depending on the lambs and the method of feeding followed. Hence it is possible for farmers who are equipped to do so to feed at least two lots of lambs during fall and winter. Handled in this way lamb feeding offers a quick turnover on the investment. Contract Feeding Relieves Farmer of Cash Outlay Interest in feeding lambs under contract has become widespread in Illinois in recent years, as it offers farmers a means of obtaining lambs without a cash outlay for them. The extent to which such an arrangement will prove satisfactory depends largely on the ability and trustworthiness of the parties concerned and on the fairness and clearness of the contract. An equitable contract is an extremely important element in contract feeding, but an equitable contract does not necessarily mean that both parties to it will be satisfied with the outcome of the enterprise. Each party to the agreement must be able to understand the other's viewpoint and know in advance all details regarding the lambs, methods of feeding, supervision, marketing, etc. A feeder will want to consider the different contracts available and select the one he believes most suitable to him, but he should not fail to keep in mind that one of the most important things is to deal with reputable people.

10 10 CIRCULAR 413 SHIPPING FEEDER LAMBS TO FARM Avoid Overcrowding Lambs in Car A purchaser should be careful about the way in which he permits his lambs to be shipped. Experienced men avoid overcrowding the lambs in the car. About 140 to 150 sixty-pound feeder lambs can usually be loaded in a single-deck car or about 300 head in a 36-foot double-deck car. The exact route over which the lambs are to be shipped should be carefully designated. Have Lambs Dried Off After Dipping Sanitary regulations require that lambs purchased at public stockyards for shipment into Illinois for feeding purposes be dipped before leaving the yards. This regulation is not enforced during cold weather. If when lambs are dipped they are left in the yards until their fleeces have become at least partially dry before they are loaded onto cars, there is not likely to be so much loss from pneumonia or similar diseases. Insist on Frequent Unloading and Feeding An experienced feeder insists on having his lambs unloaded every 28 hours when they are being shipped a long distance. Railroad companies are required to unload them this frequently unless the shipper signs a release giving the railroad the right to keep them on cars for 36-hour periods. Some feeders think lambs should not be deprived of feed and water for as long as 36 hours. They believe that lambs are more likely to develop digestive troubles under such conditions than if they are fed and watered at shorter intervals. Many range lambs are not weaned until just before they are shipped, and it is therefore especially important that they be well fed and handled enroute. This does not mean heavy feeding but simply that the lambs should not be allowed to get very hungry or thirsty. The aim at all times should be to avoid doing anything that might, by unnecessarily weakening the lambs, make them more susceptible to disease. Lambs are certain to lose weight during shipment. So long as this loss is due largely to loss of "fill," it is readily regained, but hardships that cause loss of condition should be carefully avoided. The amount of shrink will depend to some extent upon the distance the lambs are shipped, their condition and weight, and the method of handling them. A normal shrink for lambs en route to Illinois from points as far west as Denver would be about 7 pounds a head. From Chicago to most points in Illinois the shrink on lambs not heavily filled when purchased will usually be not more than 5 pounds a head.

11 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 11 Quiet, careful handling is the best way to avoid an excessive shrink and crippled lambs. Handle Lambs Carefully on Unloading Range lambs shipped to Illinois feedlots may have been on the way for a week or two. During this time they have been under unnatural conditions and have been molested to a great extent. Many of them will not have been weaned from their dams until just before shipment. They are therefore bound to arrive in somewhat exhausted condition and should be so handled at the railroad yards and on the way to the farm that they will not be subjected to further discomfort. They should be allowed ample time to reach the farm, and they should be given only those feeds to which they are accustomed. The grass and weeds which they eat as they travel slowly to the farm are not likely to injure them. For the first three or four days after arrival at the farm, palatable dry roughage or bluegrass pasture, water, a small amount of salt, and rest in the shade or under a shelter are the general requirements. GUARD AGAINST EXCESSIVE DEATH LOSSES Even with careful management some loss of lambs between purchase and market is likely to occur. Deaths to the extent of 3 or 4 percent of the number purchased are considered normal. Many feeders, however, do better than this and others lose 8 to 10 percent or even more. With such high losses as the latter it is difficult, if not impossible, to make any profit on the enterprise. Give Prompt Care in Case of Illness Lambs that become sick at any time during the feeding period should be immediately removed from the flock in order to prevent, so. far as possible, the spread of disease. Close inspection is necessary to detect sickness in lambs early enough for treatment to be effective, and prompt preventive treatment is necessary if hemorrhagic septicemia or other infectious diseases develop. Quick and sure action in diagnosing and treating any illnesses is necessary if the risk of large losses is to be avoided. When the cause of the trouble is not plain, a competent veterinariaq should be called. There are few diseases of lambs that cannot be correctly diagnosed by a skilful veterinarian, especially when aided by a thoro laboratory examination of some of the affected animals. 1 lsuch an examination may be had at the Laboratory of Animal Pathology and Hygiene, Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Illinois, Urbana.

12 12 CIRCULAR 413 Provide Good Sanitation and Ample Feeding Space To prevent conditions that tend to make lambs susceptible to disease, avoid insanitary conditions, overcrowding in feedlots, and improper housing. Keep lots in which the lambs are fed as dry and clean as possible. Clean the feed racks regularly so that waste feed will not accumulate in them, become spoiled, and if eaten cause digestive disturbances. To avoid overcrowding, give the lambs ample space at the feed rack so that none will be deprived of feed. For hand-feeding, at least 8 inches-preferably 10 inches-of rack space should be provided for each lamb. Various kinds of feed racks may be used. One of the simplest is a combination grain and hay rack with a flat bottom and slatted sides. FIG. 4.-A SIMPLE COMBINATION GRAIN AND ROUGHAGE RACK Racks like this are easily cleaned and are not costly or difficult to build. They prevent waste of feed and enable the lambs to feed from both sides. To the right is shown one side of a self-feeder. Such a rack is easily made and cleaned, prevents waste of feed, and enables the' lambs to get feed from both sides. One 16 feet long gives space for about 3S lambs. Separate racks for grain and for hay are often used. These may be built in various ways, but should be so made as to be easily cleaned and prevent the lambs from wasting feed. One type of rack is shown above.

13 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 13 Have Shelter Well Ventilated The shelter should provide good ventilation and about 6 to 8 square feet of floor space per lamb. A building 30 by 60 feet, if properly arranged, can be used for about a double-deck load of lambs. For feeding lambs in Illinois a building that is open on the south is especially desirable. Such a building requires no special plan for ventilation and has no objectionable feature except that it does allow some rain and snow to be blown in upon the lambs. In any case it is not good management to so close the shelter that an abundant supply of fresh air is not always present. Lambs fed in closed shelters without ample ventilation do not thrive nor gain so well as those fed in open shelters. Use Care Not to Overfeed Death losses of feeder lambs are often traceable to the very heavy feeding of concentrates. To try to get lambs on a full feed of heavy concentrates in one or two weeks, or to feed them very large amounts of heavy grains with a small amount of roughage, is likely to cause severe digestive disturbances and death. In fact it is one of the most common causes of loss. Overeating cannot be entirely prevented under any method of feeding, but a plentiful supply of palatable roughage at all times is a great help in this respect. DO NOT OVERLOOK SIMPLE THINGS Have Water and Salt Always Present To deprive lambs of water is a serious mistake. Some people still think water is not essential, but successful feeders are very careful to provide ample facilities so that lambs may always have an opportunity to drink. Lack of an abundance of water is believed by some to be one of the reasons why bladder stones (urinary calculi) cause substantial losses in some lots of feeder lambs. Salt is as essential to fattening lambs as it is to other animals. Some feeders insist that lambs do not get enough salt if only block salt is used. Probably barrel or loose salt is better, for then each lamb, if sufficient containers are provided, is certain to have plenty. Sort Lambs for Feeding In order to give the lighter, weaker lambs a good chance, they should be sorted out and fed apart from the heavier lambs. The larger lambs, if they are also fatter, will usually be ready for resale sooner than the smaller ones. "Topping out" and shipping the fatter lambs is regularly practiced by many feeders, tho this may not be

14 14 CIRCULAR 413 feasible for a man feeding only a small lot unless he can ship by truck. It is seldom advisable to feed more than 2,000 to 2,500 lambs together in one lot. Do Not Overexercise Lambs Forcing lambs to go long distances for feed and water is not a good practice. Lambs so treated usually gain less rapidly than lambs confined within a small area. Traveling half a mile to feed is not likely to prevent rapid gains if the lambs are allowed to walk slowly, and if there is plenty of feed for them. Confinement within a relatively small area is preferable to a wide range, however, and this is especially true during the latter half of the feeding period. FEEDING LAMBS IN FIELDS Some farmers prefer to put the lambs on pasture or waste feeds for a considerable period even tho they do not gain half so fast as they would in the drylot or if fed grain while on pasture. Very large gains should not be expected if lambs are on pasture alone in the fall, unless all conditions are especially favorable. A pound of gain in five or six days is probably the average to be expected on pasture alone. By supplementing the pasture with grain feeding, the rate of gain may be increased by as much as 50 to almost 100 percent. Good Gains Possible on Cornfield Feeding Altho some Illinois farmers consider it unsafe to feed lambs in cornfields, it is a fact that many do feed them in this way year after year with good results. At least a portion of the corn crop can be harvested in this way and much of the waste feeds in cornfields and meadows utilized. Soybeans, rape, sweet clover, and other similar crops are frequently planted or sown with corn to provide additional feed. Pastures or stubble fields adjoining cornfields often provide an abundance of needed roughage. Some feeders cut off the cornstalks just above the ear, so that the tops fall to the ground and the leaves on the upper part of the plants, as well as those lower down, may be eaten by the lambs. A small area may b~ cut each day. The lambs will not break down so many stalks when the tops are cut off in this way. If the roughages in the fields are all eaten before the lambs are ready for market, hay-preferably legume hay- should be given. Hay fed to lambs feeding in cornfields has markedly increased the rate of gain. The use of a palatable roughage also tends to prevent the lambs

15 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS I S from eating excessive amounts of corn, and so helps to prevent death losses. It is also good management to confine the lambs to a relatively small area of the field after they have consumed the field roughages. An area that provides about 2 bushels of corn for each lamb is about right, as this is the approximate amount of corn required to fatten a feeder lamb of average weight. Under such conditions a lamb will eat Yz to ~ pound of hay a day. The amount of harvested roughage required for field feeding is thus rather small, for it usually is not necessary to supply roughages except for about half the feeding period. FIG. S.-LAMB FEEDING PROVIDES USE FOR OTHERWISE UNMARKETABLE ROUGHAGE Success in field-feeding lambs depends on the selection of healthy, vigorous lambs, proper preparations for feeding them, and careful attention to the lambs at all times. Much of the roughage of the rank, "washy" kind, or roughage that is not especially palatable, may cause lambs to lose weight if they are kept on that feed alone. Lambs must have palatable and nutritious feeds if satisfactory gains are to be made. Bluegrass and the common forage crops such as clover, alfalfa, sweet clover, or rape, are superior to many wild grasses and weeds. If the forage in the fields is very succulent or unpalatable and low grade, it is advisable to place dry roughages in racks where the lambs can eat what they want. If legume hays are not available for use in the fields, gains can be significantly increased by feeding protein concentrates-soybeans, soybean oil meal, cottonseed meal, or linseed meal-at the rate of about ;Is to ;4 pound daily.

16 16 CIRCULAR 413 If neither legume roughages or pastures are available, it is advisable to supply about 4 ounces of finely ground limestone daily for each 10 lambs in addition to the protein supplement. So long as lambs have liberal amounts of legume roughages the use of mineral supplements is not necessary, but the exclusive use of low-protein roughages, such as grass hays, straws or silage, makes it advisable to add a very simple mineral to the ration.l It is possible that enough limestone will be consumed if it is mixed with the salt in equal amounts and kept before the lambs at all times. Some results of different methods of field feeding are shown in Table 1. TABLE I.-AVERAGE DAILY GAINS MADE BY LAMBS FED IN CORNFIELDS (Reported by four state experiment stations) Cornfield Cornfield and soybeans; le- Cornfield, Cornfield, Cornfield, Station Cornfield and protein protein reporting alone adjoining gume hay legume concenafter hay trate, le concenpasture beans were trate gume hay eaten lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Illinois Nebraska Ohio Purdue I Alfalfa pasture for 49 days; alfalfa hay in the cornfield the last 31 days. 2Mixed clover and timothy pasture for 55 days; alfalfa hay in cornfield for 25 days. 3Soybeans in cornfield for 28 days; soybean hay in field for 67 days. 4Cornfield alone for 28 days; alfalfa hay in field for 67 days. 5Bluegrass pasture and.25 pound linseed oil meal per day. 6Bluegrass pasture. Keep Close Watch for Maggots During the summer and early fall, lambs feeding in fields may become infested with maggots. This is most likely to happen when the lambs scour and filth collects on the wool. Lambs infested with maggots are very uncomfortable; they are inclined to rub or try to bite infested parts and show great uneasiness. The maggots must be removed or the lambs not only will not thrive but may die. To help reduce maggot trouble a few feeders shear a small amount of wool from the sides of the dock (tail) and below it soon after they get the lambs or before they turn the lambs into the fields. The removal of this wool helps to keep the lambs clean, and clean lambs are lexperiments by the Texas Experiment Station have shown that lambs fed low-protein roughages in drylot and given finely ground limestone and a protein supplement make as rapid gains as lambs fed legume roughages and the same grain ration.

17 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 17 very seldom, if ever, infested unless there is some abrasion in the skin. Under any circumstances the lambs should be closely observed from day to day and any maggots destroyed by an application of turpentine or a strong dip, or in some other manner, after the tags (bunches of dirty wool) have been clipped off. Other Precautions in Field Feeding Lambs should not be turned into fields in which there are many burs if it is at all possible to avoid doing so. Burs in the fleeces may give buyers a good excuse for lowering the price they offer. Good fences about the fields and a dog-proof corral in which the lambs can be penned at night are advisable. For late fall some shelter should be provided, especially in the colder sections of Illinois. Lambs are not likely to thrive if the fields are very wet and muddy and they are compelled to stay in them at all times. Hence it is usually most satisfactory if the lambs can come to the barn lots when they are not eating in the fields. While cornfield feeding is generally considered as requiring very little labor, enough labor and attention should be expended to provide good conditions for the lambs and not expose them unduly to severe weather or other adverse conditions. DRYLOT FEEDING Get Lambs Used to Drylot Ration in Fields It is often advisable to confine lambs to a drylot before they are finished. If this is the plan, it is well to accustom them to the drylot ration while they are still in the fields. This may be done by bringing the lambs to the lots at night, or by placing grain racks or self-feeders in the fields. Oats are very palatable to lambs and hence very useful in inducing range lambs to eat either in drylot or in fields. By accustoming the lambs to eating grain from troughs while still in the fields they will continue to do well when changed from fields to drylots. Be Sure Rations Meet Requirements To be suitable for lambs a ration must have sufficient bulk to enable the lamb's digestive tract to function properly. When lambs are on full feed about half the weight of the ration should, under most conditions, consist of dry roughage or an equivalent amount of silage or of feeds that are bulky in proportion to their weight. If the roughage or bulky feeds are reduced much below this proportion, it becomes difficult to keep lambs on full feed. Besides giving attention to the physical makeup of the ration, it is well to see that the various-nutrients-proteins, carbohydrates, miner

18 18 CIRCULAR 413 als, etc.-are supplied in needed amounts. Feeds containing high percentages of protein are more expensive, as a rule, than those with a lower protein content. For most farm feeders the cheapest and most satisfactory sources of protein are the legume roughages grown on the farm. Alfalfa, clover, and soybean hays are liked by lambs, and may be relied on not only to supply the necessary amounts of protein and minerals for fattening lambs fed farm grains, but also to meet the requirements for bulk. Simple Rations for Drylot Feeding The simplest satisfactory ration for fattening lambs in drylot consists of a concentrate and a legume roughage. Corn and legume hay may be expected to fatten 60-pound feeder lambs in a period of 90 to 110 days. Fed with good judgment, these two feeds make a ration sufficiently balanced in nutrients to put about a pound a head on good feeder lambs every 3 days. This may be considered a standard ration and a standard gain with which other rations may be compared. It is not necessarily the best ration, but it utilizes two feeds that are or may be grown on practically every Illinois farm. A fair idea of what may be expected of a ration of shelled corn and alfalfa hay hand-fed to western lambs is shown by the figures given in Table 2. Experiments at other stations have given similar results. Ear corn is suitable for lamb feeding, altho it is not so readily eaten nor so easily handled as shelled corn. Chopped or broken ear TABLE 2.-GAINS MADE BY VVESTERN RANGE LAMBS ON SHELLED CORN AND ALFALFA HAY (Illinois experiments) Average amounts of feed per day Feed per 100 pounds gain Average Trial Days daily No. fed Alfalfa gain Alfalfa hay Corn hay Corn Fed Eaten lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs " Average I

19 FEEDING J-.AMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 19 corn is easier to keep uniformily distributed in feed racks than the whole ears, but it is only from this standpoint that it is preferable to whole ears. Ground corn-and-cob meal has no apparent advantage over shelled corn, as there is little if any feed value in the cob. Ground corn is less palatable than shelled corn and is no more digestible or efficient. When corn is to be mixed with cut hay or with other bulky material for self-feeding, grinding or cracking it may be advisable. A very satisfactory feeding schedule that makes use of corn and legume hay from the time the lambs arrive at the farm until they are marketed is shown below: LAMB FEEDING SCHEDULE USING CORN AND LEGUME HAY Progress of feeding period First 5 to 7 days.... 2d week..... Average daily amounts per lamb Corn Legume hay lbs. lbs d week th week th week to close The amounts fed at any given time should be adjusted to the appetites of the lambs, which vary considerably from time to time. Other Grains May Be Substituted for Corn Other grains may be substituted for a part or all of the corn without danger if done with good judgment. No hard and fast rules can be given as to amounts of other grains to use, because of the way grains vary in quality from season to season as well as between farms and localities. Oats.-Altho it is usually not advisable to substitute oats for corn thruout the entire feeding period, they are very palatable to lambs and can be used to advantage in starting them on feed and as a partial substitute for corn during the first half or three-quarters of the feeding period. When oats are used as a complete substitute for corn, gains are not likely to be so rapid nor the finish so good. Used as a complete substitute, oats usually are worth not more than 75 percent as much as corn per pound; sometimes their value is less than this, in only a few tests has it been more. Used along with corn to the extent of about 50 percent of the total grain ration during the first half of the feeding period, oats of good quality frequently prove as valuable as corn. Practical feeders usually stop feeding oats during the last half of the feeding period. Since they are bulky in comparison with corn and with most other grains, oats in the ration may reduce the amount of roughage the lambs will eat.

20 20 CIRCULAR 413 Barley.-Barley is a suitable feed for fattening lambs. It is worth about 85 to 90 percent as much per pound as shelled corn when the two grains are of similar quality. Study of practically all the controlled feeding work with barley indicates that this is a fair estimate, altho there are tests showing barley and corn of equal value. The rate of gain is usually less with barley than with corn, and somewhat more barley than corn is required to produce a given gain in weight. Lambs will attain a good finish, however, on barley, altho the finish may not be so firm as when corn is fed. When barley can be had for less than 85 percent of the cost of corn per hundredweight, it is advisable to use it. If barley is to be fed alone it need not be ground. Tests show that practically nothing is gained by grinding since lambs are capable of grinding it themselves. An exception to this statement might be made for barley of the very hard varieties. The feeding schedule suggested for corn is a suitable guide for barley feeding also. Wheat.-As a feed for fattening lambs wheat usually has 90 to 100 percent the value of corn. Some whole wheat may pass unchewed and undigested thru the lambs. While this may be prevented by grinding the wheat, grinding seems to lessen the palatability of the grain and does not increase its consumption nor the rate of gain. According to tests (Table 3) about 7 to 10 percent more grain and alfalfa hay are required for a given amount of gain when whole wheat is used in place of corn. TABLE 3.-COMPARISONS OF WHEAT AND CORN FOR FATTENING LAMBS Average amounts Aver- Feed per 100 Days Kind of of feed per day age pounds gain Station fed grain daily Grain Alfalfa gain Grain Alfalfa lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Illinois Whole wheat Shelled corn Nebraska l Whole wheat Shelled corn Nebraska 2 84 Wheat Corn Oklahoma Whole wheat Shelled corn lreported in Bulletin 256, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. 2Average of two trials reported in Bulletin 257, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Apparently there is some likelihood of bloat when whole wheat is used as the only grain feed. Ground wheat or mixtures of wheat and other grains do not seem to affect lambs in this way.

21 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 21 Rye.-Rye of good quality is readily eaten by fattening lambs and may be used as part or all of the ration..ll1ixtures.-mixtures of two or more grains are very satisfactory for lambs. Because they add variety to the ration they sometimes cause a greater consumption of feed than the same grains fed separately, and hence more rapid gains. Little Practical Difference in Legumes Alfalfa is not excelled by any other roughage for lamb feeding, tho clover and soybean hays compare very favorably with it. When of similar quality, clover hay may be substituted in equal amount for alfalfa and similar results obtained. The use of soybean hay for lamb feeding is increasing. Aside from the waste due to the coarser stems it is very similar in value to alfalfa hay. Because the stems are not eaten by lambs, IS to 20 percent more soybean hay than alfalfa hay is usually required to produce the same gain (Table 4). TABLE 4.-SHELLED CORN AND SOYBEAN HAY COMPARED WITH SHELLED CORN AND ALFALFA HAY FOR FATTENING LAMBS (Illinois experiments) Trial Average amounts of Average No. feed per day daily gain Feed per 100 pounds gain Soybean hay Corn Soybean hay Corn Fed Eaten lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs Average Alfalfa hay Corn Alfalfa hay Corn Fed Eaten lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs Average Sweet clover hay or cowpea hay may be expected to produce very satisfactory gains, according to tests in which these hays were fed in comparison with alfalfa hay. Nonlegume Roughages Must Be Supplemented N onlegume roughages fed with farm grains only do not make satisfactory rations for lamb feeding. Corn fodder, oat straw, and

22 22 CIRCULAR 413 timothy hay, used with corn, oats, barley, wheat, or rye, result in slow gains and a large consumption of feed in proportion to gains. Because such rations are low in protein and minerals, it is hard to maintain the lambs in good health. Such roughages and grains as the above can be used satisfactorily, however, if a protein supplement is used and a small amount of finely ground limestone or steamed bone meal is added to the ration. The use of finely ground limestone, or a similar mineral, in addition to a protein supplement, helps to bring the ration up to about the level of a ration that includes legumes, according to investigations made at the Texas and Kansas Experiment Stations. N onlegume roughages have been used satisfactorily for a third to a half of the roughage part of the ration when legume roughages made up the remainder. Supplement With Legumes Sometimes Profitable On a ration of corn and legumes satisfactory gains and finish can be made without the use of supplements high in protein content. However, such supplements do tend to increase the rate of gain and finish, and when they can be had at a price per ton that does not exceed the cost of about 40 bushels of corn and ~ ton of hay, their use with a corn and legume ration is advisable. At any higher prices the net return is not enough t'o justify their use unless very fast gains are desired or a premium can be had for a higher finish. From a practical standpoint there is little difference in the commonly used supplements-cottonseed meal, linseed oil meal, or soybean oil meal-so far as feed value is concerned, and one would usually select the one lowest in price. These supplements are generally fed at the rate of 1 pound to 7 pounds of corn, wheat, or barley. Little is to be gained in feeding them in larger amount, and used in much smaller proportions they are relatively ineffective. Mixtures of at least three supplements-cottonseed meal, linseed oil meal, and corn gluten meal-have given better results than anyone of them used alone or a combination of any two of them. Silage Has Favorable Place in Ration As a part of the ration for fattening lambs, good-quality silage has merit that has been amply demonstrated. Varying amounts may be fed, but according to present information dry legume roughage should not be entirely replaced by silage even tho protein supplements are used. On farms where silage is available it is doubtful if there is a better ration for drylot feeding than one composed of corn, a protein supplement, legume hay, and corn silage. The use of a protein supplement

23 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 23 with silage is preferable to silage without such a supplement because of the greater rate of gain and higher finish that results and the saving in corn, hay, and silage. However, even without a protein supplement a ton of corn silage saves approximately half a ton of hay. FIG. 6.-SILAGE OF HIGH QUALITY Is A GOOD FEED FOR FATTENING LAMBS On many farms silage is an important part of the lamb fattening rations. Note type of feed rack used here. For outdoor feeding paved or very welldrained lots are necessary. Using shelled corn, legume hay, corn silage, and a protein supplement, a suitable ration for fattening lambs is as follows: Average daily ration lbs. Shelled corn to 1.4 Protein supplement to.20 Legume hay to 1.00 Corn silage to 1.50 An average daily gain per lamb of at least a third of a pound a day (a pound every 3 days) may be expected from such a ration. A reasonable allowance of feed for a hundred pounds gain would be shelled corn 315 pounds, protein supplement 45 pounds, legume hay 275 pounds, and silage 400 pounds. Other grains may be substituted for all or part of the corn in the above ration if prices justify doing so. The relative values of the other grains in this ration are probably similar to their values in the simpler ration of grain and a legume roughage, page 19.

24 24 CIRCULAR 413 Take care to feed lambs only silage of good quality. frozen silage is likely to cause serious trouble. Moldy or Self-Feeders Can Be Used for Some Feeds The self-feeding of lambs has been tried by some farm feeders with satisfactory results. Self-feeding is commonly practiced at railroad feeding yards. At such places some light, bulky feed, such as screenings or oat feed, is mixed with the ground grain so the ration will not be too compact. Some farm feeders have used self-feeders for shelled corn, providing hay in separate racks. Other feeders consider this practice -dan- FIG. 7.-A SELF-FEEDER ADAPTED TO FEEDING A GRAIN AND ROUGHAGE MIXTURE For self-feeding it is important that the rations contain considerable bulk so that the lambs cannot overeat. The size of the opening thru which the feed enters the troughs may be adj usted by moving the lower boards. gerous because of the possibility of the lambs overeating on corn and becoming unthrifty or dying because of severe digestive disturbances. Experiments at several experiment stations show that this method is rather hazardous because of the possibility of excessive grain consumption. While this method of self-feeding may prove satisfactory when used by very careful feeders, it is not suitable for the average feeder. To self-feed lambs safely with farm feeds, the roughage should be ground or cut and the grain, preferably ground, mixed with it. If

25 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 25 whole grains are used, the lambs may pick out and eat more grain than they should. A mixture of ground roughage and ground grain used in proper proportions is bulky enough to prevent serious digestive troubles. Lambs will eat large amounts of it, and may be expected to make rapid gains. The proportion of grain to roughage should be changed from time to time so that at the end of about a month the lambs will be getting approximately equal parts of concentrates and roughage. The following proportions have been found suitable for fattening lambs: PROPORTIONS OF CORN AND HAY SUGGESTED FOR SELF-FEEDING FATTENING LAMBS Ground corn Cut alfalfa lbs. lbs. 1st week d week d week th week th week to close With this schedule the lambs eat more corn at the start of the period than they do when hand-fed; hence gains are likely to be greater. The gains may be more expensive than under hand-feeding, because of the grinding costs, tho the extra expense is sometimes offset by faster gains and lower death losses, for death losses in lots of lambs self-fed in this way have been found to be less than in other lots that were hand-fed. The results of some experiments in hand-feeding and self-feeding are given in Table S. The first three lots of hand-fed lambs are comparable to the first three self-fed groups. The self-fed lambs ate approximately 22 percent more grain and 21 percent more hay than the hand-fed lambs, made 17 percent faster daily gains, and required 4 percent more corn and 5.5 percent more hay for each 100 pounds of gain. The self-fed lambs were of course in higher condition at the close of the test. From these tests it is evident that self-fed lambs will attain in about 70 days the same degree of finish that hand-fed lambs reach in 85 days. The importance of using the right proportions of grain and hay for self-feeding is brought out by the figures for the last four lots shown in Table S. The two lots of self-fed lambs were given, thruout the 98 days, at least a 1-to-1 proportion of corn and hay. This was too heavy for the start of the feeding and the lambs failed to respond properly. The amount of rack space required is reduced when self-feeders are used. A 12-foot feeder accessible from both sides is usually large enough to accommodate about 40 lambs. Self-feeders require some attention, especially when cut or ground roughage is used in them, to see that the feed is always available to the lambs. Feeds of this kind are likely to lodge in the feeders. The

26 26 CIRCU LAR 413 TABLE S.-SELF-FEEDING COMPARE D \ -\TITR HAND-FEEDING FOR LAMBS (Illinois experiments) Feeding Days Average amounts of Average Feed per 100 method fed feed per day daily gain pounds gain Whole Whole Shelled alfalfa Shelled alfalfa corn hay corn hay Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Hand-fed Ground Ground Ground or cut Ground or cut corn alfalfa corn alfalfa Ibs. Ibs. lbs. Ibs. Ibs. Self-fed Shelled Shelled corn Alfalfa corn Alfalfa lbs. Ibs. Ibs. lbs. Ibs. Hand-fed Self-fed Hand-fed Self-fed S Texas finewool lambs; all other tests were with black-faced lambs. 2Includes.17 pound cottonseed meal. 3Includes 49 pounds cottonseed meal. 4Includes.19 pound cottonseed meal. 5Includes S4 pounds cottonseed meal. troughs of self-feeders should be cleaned from time to time also, so the feed will not become soiled and unpalatable. KEEP LAMBS GAINING Keep always in mind that the purpose of feeding lambs is to fatten them. Whether they are fed in the field for some time or whether they are put into the drylot as soon as purchased, they should be kept gaining steadily in weight. Only in this way can they be fattened in 90 to 110 days, the usual period, and only in this way can feed be used to the best advantage. To permit a group of lambs to lose in a week what they have gained in three means just that much loss of feed and effort. The most likely cause of failure to gain properly is poor feeding and mistakes in management. Very low-grade feeds are not suitable for exclusive feeding to fattening lambs in either field or drylot, as they do not produce gains that result in a thick, even finish. Feeds grown on Illinois farms are, as a rule, suitable provided they are not seriously damaged and are fed in proper amounts.

27 FEEDING LAMBS ON ILLINOIS FARMS 27 MARKETING THE FATTENED LAMBS Know When Lambs Are Fat The feeding period should be concluded when the lambs have acquired a thick covering of fat on the back, ribs and loin. To determine whether lambs are in this condition it is necessary to place the hands on these parts. A little experience will soon enable one to tell the difference between thin lambs and those that are fat. FIG. 8.-HANDLING A LAMB TO ASCERTAIN ITs CONDITION Are the lambs fat? Handling will give the answer. Marketing lambs before they have attained a good "killer finish" means a low price; continuing to feed them after they are fat increases costs. Anyone engaged in feeding lambs should develop the ability to determine the condition of lambs by handling them, for it is practically impossible to tell their exact condition by merely looking at them. Preparing Lambs for Shipment When the lambs are ready to be sent to market, they should be put into as attractive shape as possible. If tags have accumulated on any of the lambs they should be clipped off. Sorting the lambs into uniform lots is an advantage in marketing if enough lambs are fed to make this possible. Cars or trucks should be cleaned and bedded so the lambs will not become dirty in transit. Large losses in weight from feedlot to market are avoided when care is taken not to handle lambs roughly or to excite them while they are being moved to the shipping point.

28 28 CIRCULAR 413 Very heavy feeding immediately before shipping is unwise. Illinois lamb feeders have the choice of several central markets for the disposal of their lambs. The market may be selected on the basis of convenience, freight or trucking rates, probable shrinkage in weight, price advantages, and other factors. Reliable sales agencies are to be found on all markets. If the lambs are being "fed in transit," the market destination was of course decided upon at the time of purchase. FIG. 9.-FINISHED LAMBS ON THE WAY TO MARKET Careful, quiet handling from feedlot to loading point helps to h ep shrinkage low and to insure arrival at market in good condition. r M-4S93