286 EXPERIMENT FOR ASCERTAINING ^^^IGHT OF STOCK 



the utmost degree of fatness before they must be sold, and the 

 allowance of swedes was raised to 1^^ cwt. per day, with a decided 

 increase of the rate of fattening. The daily consumption of 

 straw was about 12 lbs. ahead; the first lot, however, which 

 were getting linseed, consumed about 2 lbs. a head more than 

 the others. This is rather remarkable. Mr Warington and 

 other experimenters have observed that cattle receiving linseed 

 in addition to other food consume less straw than usu i . 

 Perhaps these bullocks consumed more turnips than those which 

 Mr Warington experimented with. 



On the 8th December the bullocks were measured and 

 weighed for the last time. They were sold the same day for 

 £600, at 82s. per cwt. of estimated carcass weight, and a few 

 days after they left for the London Christmas market. In 

 estimating their weight and value, no dependence was placed 

 upon their live weight, but the estimate was based upon their 

 length and girth and degree of fatness. The average length 

 was over 4 feet 9 inches, the average girth was 6 feet 10 inches, 

 and they were reckoned to have a carcass weight of 58 J stones 

 of 14 lbs. or 7 cwts. 1 qr. 7 lbs. The average actual live weight 

 was 101^ stones, or 12 cwt. 2 qrs. 17J lbs. The ratio of the 

 estimated carcass weight to the actual live weight is therefore 

 57*77 per cent. 



The increase or decrease in live weight, between one measure- 

 ment and another, was most instructive, and I should not now 

 like to want a weighing machine to show at once the improve- 

 ment or falling off in fattening and growing stock. Too much 

 must not, however, be expected of a weighing machine. It may 

 serve as a correct indicator of progress or the reverse, but not of 

 comparative value. The live weights of two fat cattle may 

 differ, while their estimated dead weights are the same, and vice 

 versa. Something depends upon individual peculiarities not 

 visible to the eye during life, but more upon good or bad appetite 

 and digestion, which may go together in the proper way, or not. 

 After fat stock have been kept without food and water for a day 

 or two the ratio of carcass to live weight becomes much higher, 

 and probably also becomes more nearly equal among a number 

 of cattle than it was when upon full food. 



It now^ only remains to give in a tabular form the particulars 

 noted regarding each animal at the beginning of the experiment 

 on August 31, and at the end on December 8, 1883. They are 

 given in two ways — first, arranged according to the kinds of 

 oleaginous foods, and second, according to the quantities of these 

 and of maize. 



No. 1 frequently left part of his food, and would have pre- 

 ferred linseed and maize to pure linseed. At the close he was 

 soft and fleshy. 



