172 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Results of feeding oxalic acid to a sheep — Continued. 



When oxalic acid was fed tlie sheep lost little calcium oxid. Par- 

 tially neutralizing the oxalic acid with sodium carbonate did not change 

 its effect. In 2 of the 3 periods in which this was done there was a 

 loss of calcium oxid and in the other a gain. In the author's opinion 

 the latter case is exceptional, and is left out of account in drawing the 

 conclusions. When the oxalic acid was neutralized with calcium car- 

 bonate the sheep gained calcium oxid. Lactic acid had no effect. on 

 the excretion of calcium oxid. The digestibility of protein was dimin- 

 ished by adding oxalic acid to the ration. 



A feeding experiment was made with 3 ewes. No determination of 

 the balance of income and outgo of calcium oxid and nitrogen was 

 attempted. All the sheep were fed a basal ration consisting of 200 gm. 

 of dry beet chips and hay. The calcium oxid in the beet chips and 

 hay was determined. The amount of food actually consumed each day 

 was recorded. The amount of hay was on an average 354 gm., 175 gm., 

 and 209 gm. for the 3 ewes, respectively. In addition No. 1 was given 

 50 cc. of a 10 per cent solution of oxalic acid neutralized with bicar- 

 bonate of soda, and No. 2 the same amount neutralized with calcium 

 carbonate, and No. 3 the same amount half neutralized with calcium car- 

 bonate. The amount of calcium oxid consumed by the 3 sheep was 

 calculated. None of the sheep showed symptoms of disease. 



The author attributes the fact that the oxalic acid had so little effect 

 in part to the breed of sheep selected for the experiments. 



Feeding experiment to determine the relative value of linseed 

 cake and dried distillery grains as a by-fodder for sheep, 

 A. Logan {Trans. Highland and Agl. Soc. Scotland, 5. ser., 7 (1895), 

 pp. 433-130). — A test was made at Ferney Castle, Keston, Berwick- 





