124 



THE CHEMISTRY OF THE FABM. 



The capacity of an animal for fattening depends much 

 on breed and temperament. A farmer learns to recognize 

 the fattening disposition of an animal from the feel of its 

 skin, etc. 



The three animals with which the farmer is chiefly con- 

 cerned have very different powers of consuming food, and 

 yield different rates of increase. Lawes and Gilbert reckon 

 that, on an average of the whole fattening period, an ox 

 will produce 100 Ibs. of live weight from the consumption 

 of 250 Ibs. oilcake, 600 Ibs. clover hay, and 3500 Ibs. swedes. 

 Sheep will produce the same increase by the consumption 

 of 250 Ibs. oilcake, 300 Ibs. clover hay, and 4000 Ibs. 

 swedes.* Pigs will require about 500 Ibs. of barley meal 

 to yield a similar result. Taking these data, the rate of 

 food consumed, and of increase yielded, will be as 

 follows : 



KESULTS OBTAINED WITH FATTENING ANIMALS 

 PER 100 LBS. LIVE WEIGHT PEE WEEK. 



