194 



THE CHEMISTRY OF THE FARM 



The upper division of the table supphes some useful 

 facts as to the quantities of food consumed, and the 

 amounts of increase and manure obtained during the 

 fattening stage of feeding.^ In the lower division of 

 the table, the consumption of food per 1,000 lbs. live 

 v^eight, and the return in animal increase per live 

 weight, and per food consumed, are given. It will 

 be seen that in proportion to its weight the sheep 

 eats more food and yields more increase than the 

 ox, while the pig takes much more food and gives 

 much more increase than either. This is due to 

 the concentrated and digestible character of the food 

 (corn meal) supplied to a fattening pig, and to the 

 great capacity of this animal for assimilation. The 

 proportion of stomach is greater in a fat ox or sheep 

 than in a pig, being on 100 lbs. live weight, 3*2 for the 

 ox, 2*5 for the sheep, and 0*7 for the pig. On the 

 other hand, the proportion of the intestines is greater 



^ Since these estimates were made the fattening capacity of English 

 sheep and oxen has increased, owing to improvements in the breeds 

 It is probable that larger quantities of food are now successfully 

 utilised by the animals in question. 



