1904.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



63 



B. Digestion Experiments with Sheep. 



J. B. IJNDSEY.' 



Digestion experiments with sheep were begun at this 

 station in 1893, and a full description of the method 

 employed will be found in the eleventh report of the Mas- 

 sachusetts State Experiment Station. The following ex- 

 periments were made in the autunm of 1902 and during the 

 winter and spring of 1903. The full data is given in this 

 report, with the exception of the daily production of 

 manure and the daily water consumption, in which case, 

 to economize space, averages only are presented. 



The periods extended over fourteen days, the first seven 

 of which were preliminary, collection of f^ces being made 

 diu-ing the last seven. Ten grams of salt were fed each 

 sheep daily, in addition to the regular ration. Water was 

 before the animals at all times. Sheep III. throughout the 

 series gave evidence of strong digestive powers, while Sheep 

 n. and particularly Sheep I. showed at times evidence of 

 weak digestion, and in several cases the results from these 

 two latter sheep were omitted, and the tests will be repeated. 

 The sheep were full-grown grade Southdown wethers, and 

 have been used for a number of years. 



Composition of Feed Stuffs (Per Cent.'). 

 [Dry matter.] 



Feed Stuffs. 



Ash. 



Protein. 



Fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 Extract. 



Fat. 



Digestion liay 



Apple iioiiia<'e, .... 

 Biles XXXX distillers' grains, 

 Mercliants ilistillers' grains, . 

 Brewers' grains, 



Malt sprouts 



Soy bean meal 



Hominy meal, .... 

 Waste, Sheep III., Period XXV. 



7.63 

 3.93 

 1.77 

 2.10 

 3.83 

 4.97 

 5.18 

 3.38 

 7.63 



12.03 

 5.06 

 37.75 

 34.52 

 26.02 

 28.27 

 41.93 

 12.23 

 12.03 



31.60 

 16.17 

 14.56 

 13.71 

 17.48 

 16.24 

 4.40 

 4.97 

 31.60 



45.89 

 70.00 

 34.15 

 35.25 

 45.30 

 49.02 

 29.43 

 69.43 

 45.89 



2.85 

 4.84 

 11.77 

 14.42 

 7.37 

 1.50 

 19.06 

 9.99 

 2.85 



1 With E. B. Holland and P. H. Smith. 



