256 THE SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



woody fibre is that portion whicli is soluble in dilute acids and 

 alkalies (similar reagents to the gastric juice and biliary secre- 

 tions), and which he therefore concludes would be converted by 

 the digestive processes into food ; and all that resists such tests 

 will pass through the system, being insoluble. Sir John Lawes 

 has shown that the power to thrive upon straw depends upon 

 the proportion between the intestines and stomachs ; that cattle 

 possess greater power than sheep, and sheep than pigs. This 

 affects the proportion in which such food can be used. 



We have reason to believe that the animal laboratory is even 

 more perfect than the chemist's, and that we may safely accept 

 the figures under this head. Supposing, however, that only 

 one-half the dry matter of straw is available, whilst the whole 

 of the dry matter in the turnips can be made use of (which is 

 never absolutely the fact, since in full-grown turnips there is 

 always about 3 per cent, of woody fibre, and much more when 

 the plant is over ripe, especially towards spring, when the flower 

 stem is shooting), we have 2116 Jib. of available food against 

 30241b. in the turnips ; and it therefore follows that sheep 

 eating turnips and straw, and thereby economising the con- 

 sumption of the root crop by one-half, will consume in a given 

 time 51401b. of dry matter against 60481b. when feeding solely 

 on turnips. It is only fair to conclude that this difference will 

 be partly compensated for by the healthier condition of the 

 sheep, and by the lesser amount of fuel required to maintain 

 the temperature of the body. 



Ewes fed with an unlimited quantity of turnips are apt to 

 scour, particularly in wet weather. We believe that it pays 

 exceedingly well, especially towards the period of lambing, to 

 give in addition to the straw a small quantity of artificial food, 

 selecting such materials as are cheap and nourishing. It is of 

 such vital importance that the ewe be strong, vigorous, and in 

 condition to produce a full flow of milk, that such an outlay 

 will be abundantly repaid afterwards. Straw may be used 

 either given long in cages or as chaff. On sheep farms, and 

 where the ewes are on arable land, we prefer the former plan, 

 for several reasons — principally because the ewe has a power 

 of selection, and can take only the more nourishing portions. 

 Chaff is liable to blow away and be injured by moisture. 



