274 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



average of 346 pounds for each sheep, or 4 pounds a day. It was nol 

 when they increased the most that they ate the most, but they ate the 

 most from the fifteenth to the forty-fifth day. 



The fattening of the other 2 wethers was continued sixty-five days, 

 in which time they consumed 653 pounds of oats, barley, and lucerne. 

 They were sheared in June and killed August 20, yielding, respectively, 

 57 and 55 pounds of meat and bone; 20 and 18 pounds of suet; 5 and 4 

 pounds of liver and lungs; 34 pounds each of head, legs, skin, and 

 intestines, and 5 pounds each of blood; total, 121 and 116 pounds. The 

 meat, as in the case of the first one killed, was found to be excellent. 



It was observed as the result of the experiment that the wether 

 weighing the most at the end of the test was that one which was of 

 medium weight at the beginning; that the one weighing the least of 

 the three at the end was the one which weighed the least at the begin- 

 ning; that the greatest increase in each took place in the first twelve 

 days; that there was an abatement of increase during a warm spell in 

 two of the animals, after which, the weather being cooler, the increase 

 was greater; that on two occasions one increased, while the two dimin- 

 ished; these were not the same, each time, which diminished. 



The conclusions drawn from the experiment were that to avoid loss 

 the fattening must not be prolonged, and that after a certain time the 

 sheep did not increase in value proportionate to the cost of feeding. 



The great improvement in this Rambouillet Merino is concisely stated 

 by M. Bernardin, the director of the flock : 



The fold of Rainbouillet can show by record and statistics that the managers have 

 produced a type of sheep which they sought to produce from the start; that this 

 race of sheep has been kept pure for a century, and everyone applauds at sight the 

 incomparable perfection attained at Rambouillet; that the modes of feeding, differ- 

 ent regimen, methods of breeding, improvement of selection, care, and good manage- 

 ment of shepherds, has produced a sheep of early development for consumption, 

 rapid growth to maturity, and showing a gain by average from 120 pounds for rams 

 and 75 to 80 pounds for ewes in 1800, to 200 to 250 pounds for rams and 120 to 150] 

 pounds for ewes in 1880; that the weight of fleece of rams has increased from 10 

 pounds in 1800 to 16 to 20 pounds in 1880, and ewes from 5 pounds in 1800 to 10 

 pounds in 1880, with length of staple increased from 2 inches in 1800 to 3 or 3 inches 

 in 1880; that the fineness of liber and crimp of the wool have reached the highest- 

 degree of perfection, and that for length, strength, and elasticity it has no equal;] 

 that a density and bulk of fleece has been attained which does not exist in any other^ 

 race of sheep; that the wethers and lambs are noted for their rapid and steady 

 growth to maturity, their aptitude to fatten, and the excellent quality of mutton, 

 and that other Merinos are not of the same value and title as those of Rambouillet, 

 either regarding the production or the qualities of wool and meat. This type of 

 sheep are the only Merinos in existence that are noted for their prodigious size, 

 rapid growth, great hardiness, and a dense fleece of great bulk, length of staple, 

 freedom from excessive grease, and unsurpassed fineness, equally suited for the 

 carder and comber. 



Touching the progressive weights of these animals from birth to matu- 

 rity there follow tables given for the years 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, and 

 1866, showing weight at birth and on the first of each successive month: 



