28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 



Compared -with succulent prickly pear, 1 lb. of Soudan 

 grass {Sorghum var.) hay was equal to 5 to 6 lb. of prickly pear 

 when the prickly pear was fed in medium amount, and to 8 lb. 

 of prickly pear when given in high amount. It wdll be better 

 to feed prickly pear as part roughage with hay than as the sole 

 roughage and in high amount. Where reduction of butter-fat 

 is not important, j)rickly pear would be useful as a succulent 

 in the dietary of milch cows. 



Owing to reduction of the amount eaten through feeding 

 high amounts of supplementary feeds, it wdll not be possible to 

 include prickly pear in high or medium amount in the rations 

 of more than medium -yielding cows. 



The butter produced by prickly pear fed cows is pale in 

 colour. The milk is siiitable for cheesemaking. 



Prickly pear can well constitute the bulk of the ration of 

 dry cows. 



It is thought that 0. inermis is less palatable to cattle 

 than some other species. 



Prickly pear is indifferently palatable to sheep. It can be 

 fed finely cut without ill effect. 



With small amounts of other feeds enough prickly pear is 

 generaUy eaten to constitute a ration that is barely sufficient 

 to maintain the sheep. 



The succulence of prickly pear will supply sheep with 

 sufficient water in cool weather. The appetite of sheep for 

 prickly pear is diminished when water is given. For the best 

 results the animals should be watered only as made imperative 

 by the season. 



The utility of prickly pear for sheep is solely as a roughage 

 in rations for maintenance. It will have no value in sheep- 

 raising. 



