26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 



gressively decreased, and when about "7 lb. starch equivalent 

 was given per sheep in the form of other feeds practically 

 no prickly pear was eaten. 



Watering inhibits the consumption of prickly pear by 

 'sheep. In Experiments 1 to 5 in winter it was not deemed 

 necessary to water the sheep, save at infrequent intervals, and 

 the prickly pear eaten was higher than in the later experiments, 

 during wMch warmer weather necessitated watering at least 

 each fifth day. On days on which water was given the sheep 

 ate less prickly pear. The average prickly pear consumption 

 per head on days on Avlaich the sheep had no Avater was -28 lb. 

 starch equivalent ; when water was given, it receded- to -14 lb. 



The Limited Utility of Prickly Pear as Sheep 

 Feed. 



The indifferent palatability of prickly pear will hmit its 

 usefulness to that of an emergency drought fodder for the 

 maintenance of mature sheep ; for which purpose it mil be 

 a safe and economical feed and may compose up to 50 per cent, 

 of balanced rations, in which it is included. The failure noted 

 of a few sheep to subsist thereon does not affect the general 

 conclusion as to the utihty of prickly pear for maintenance ; and 

 even the reduced rations, due to occasional watering in warmer 

 seasons, would enable the animals to subsist, or preserve a lean 

 condition, over considerable periods. It will be evident that, 

 for the best results with prickly pear, sheep should be given 

 M^ater as infrequently as the season permits. 



The author is of opinion that prickly pear where it occurs 

 might advantageously be made a portion of a drought ration 

 with the edible shrub commonly cut for sheep. The succulence 

 of the plants would tend to conserve water supplies, and 

 would i^rovide a corrective to the fibrous and astringent 

 foliage which may be productive of impaction and losses from 

 this cause. 



Prickly pear is not sufificiently palatable to be included in 

 rations designed for fattening or adequate to the maintenance 

 of milk yield of ewes with lambs at foot. 



A separate trial showed prickly pear to have no utility as 

 a feed for lambs. The animals ate little, and, when supplied 

 liberally with other feeds, refused prickly pear altogether. 



