SHEEP. 319 



cent, of oil, and these elements are very digestible in corn. The starch is most admirably 

 adapted to the production of animal heat, and the surplus goes to lay on fat; besides, the 5 

 to 7 per cent, of fat is ready formed to be deposited in the animal body. But corn contains 

 these carbonaceous elements in such large proportion as to make it too heating when fed 

 alone in large quantity. The albuminoid or muscle-forming element of corn ranges from 8 

 to 10 per cent., giving a nutritive ratio of one of albuminoids to from 7.5 to 10 of carbhy- 

 drates this is too low a nutritive ratio for fattening, unless combined with more nitrogenous 

 food. But if good clover hay form part of the ration, then corn makes a very profitable 

 addition. Clover has a nutritive ratio of from 1.4 to 1.7. And if the ration is composed of 

 2 pounds of clover hay and 2 pounds of corn, it gives 3.40 pounds of dry food, with a 

 nutritive ratio slightly under 1.6, which answers well for a fattening ration. And as sheep 

 are fattened largely in winter, corn is found to be one of the best foods to keep the sheep 

 warm, arid thus assists in the laying on of fat. 



2. Oats and corn, mixed in equal weight, constitute a most excellent grain ration for 

 sheep. The oat has a larger proportion of albuminoid and less of starch than corn, and, thus 

 combined, the ration is less heating, and is especially appropriate for summer fattening. One 

 and a half to two and a half pounds of this mixed grain, fed with any fair quality of hay, 

 will be a successful fattening ration for sheep. 



3. Bran, oats, and corn, mixed in equal weights, form a ration, better, perhaps, than 

 the last, because the bran has a larger proportion of nitrogen than oats, therefore reduces the 

 nutritive ratio and improves the combination. Bran is also cheaper than oats, and therefore 

 reduces the cost of the ration. Three pounds per head of this combined ration, fed with 

 straw even, will be successful, or if fed with two pounds of good hay may be reduced one-half. 



4. Oil meal and corn have been used as a practical ration with great advantage. The 

 new-process linseed meal, which contains more albuminoids and less oil, will be quite as good 

 as the old-style oil meal to combine with corn, because corn is so rifch in starch and oil that 

 they balance each other. One-half pound of linseed meal or decorticated cotton-seed meal, 

 with 1^- pounds of corn, makes a good combination, and 2 pounds of the mixture per head, 

 with any kind of hay, will be a full ration for most sheep. 



5. If we compare turnips with corn, we find 3 pounds of corn fully equal to 22 

 pounds of Swedes, and 1 bushel is equal to 411 pounds of Swedes, and 40 bushels (or one 

 acre) of corn equals 8^- tons of Swede turnips; and this, in the &quot;West, with corn at 30 cents, 

 would make turnips worth only $1.48 per ton, and at 50 cents per bushel corn would be as 

 cheap as turnips at $2.42 per ton. It is hardly probable that roots will ever be raised in this 

 country as extensively as they are in England, because, when compared with grain as to 

 nutriment, they are no cheaper; but they have a great value in promoting the health of sheep 

 and cattle, and they should be used in moderate quantity for that purpose, making up the 

 ration with other food. 



The combination No. 4 will generally produce the most rapid fattening, and the oil meal 

 will have about the same laxative operation upon the digestive organs of tne sheep as a 

 moderate feed of turnips. It is no doubt economy to feed a small quantity of oil meal, say 

 one-fifth to one-fourth of a pound, with all the rations mentioned, except perhaps with 

 turnips. The oil meal would not increase the cost of the ration materially, as it would reduce 

 the other elements of the ration. The oil meals are peculiarly adapted to the growth of 

 wool, and promote its quality. Sheep-feeding requires a very observant shepherd, who can 

 take into consideration the individual wants of his flock. There is no department of feeding 

 requiring more skill.&quot; 



Hurdles for Sheep. These are often a great convenience in confining sheep to 

 pastures or cultivated fields, such as of turnips, rye, etc., and are sometimes used in this coun 

 try, though not extensively. Mr. Killebrew thus describes them: 



