FEEDING SHEEP AND GOATS 



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two pounds daily on approximately the same feed as eaten by ten 

 sheep. Sheep are ruminants and consume considerable quantities 

 of rough feed; they, therefore, need smaller proportions of expen- 

 sive grain feed than do swine. For these and other reasons the 

 further development of the American sheep industry is a matter 

 of great economic importance, especially in view of the decreasing 

 ratio of meat-producing animals to our population, which is likely 

 to continue with the rapid extension of the manufacturing industries 

 in this country. 



Wool Production. In feeding sheep, whether of the wool or 

 mutton type, a growth of both wool and body tissue takes place. 

 If only sufficient feed is given to maintain the sheep at an even 

 body weight, the growth of wool is diminished, but does not stop 

 entirely. When liberal fattening rations are fed, on the other hand, 

 a normal growth of wool results; this cannot be further increased 

 by feeding heavier rations, so far as the wool fiber is concerned, 

 but the weight of fleece obtained may be increased on account 

 of the larger percentage of wool grease found therein. Wool is 

 composed chiefly of the protein substance keratin, containing 4 to 

 5 per cent sulfur, in addition to the usual components of protein, 

 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (p. 22). Since the pro- 

 duction of wool is a necessary accompaniment of sheep feeding; 

 whether it is the main object sought or not, it follows that rations 

 fed to sheep should contain considerable protein and have relatively 

 narrow nutritive ratios, especially in the case of growing animals. 

 We find, therefore, that the feeding standards call for a large 

 amount of protein for growing sheep and breeding ewes. 



Fattening Sheep. Mature fattening sheep do not, however, re- 

 quire more protein in their foed than the same class of steers, since 

 there is very little new formation of tissue in the case of these 

 animals, the increase during the fattening period being made up 

 largely of fat. This is shown by the analyses of sheep at different 

 stages of fattening which were made by Lawes and Gilbert, of 

 Eothamsted Experiment Station, about the middle of the last cen- 

 tury. The composition of the increase from lean (" store ") to fat- 

 tened condition, and from fat to very fat condition, is given below : 



Composition of Increase of Fattening Sheep, in Per Cent 



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