MANAGE:M;E^X.1 



SHEEP, 



[maitagement. 



always be taken into the calculations of the 

 farmer. Their modus operandi is simple, and 

 verv easily described. Experience has taught 

 us that, as we accelerate our own motion, we 

 increase respiration, when the excess of oxygen 

 inhaled requires an increased quantity of car- 

 bon, which would otherwise be given to the 

 accumulating of fat. So, likewise, cold takes 

 away from the system its animal heat ; to renew 

 which, more oxygen and more carbon must be 

 employed in producing extra combustion, in 

 order that the diminution of temperature may 

 be restored. iSTature effects this restoration 

 of heat, by causing cold to produce both hunger 

 and the desire lor motion ; supplying carbon 

 by the gratification of the former, and oxygen by 

 the indulgence of the latter. In proof of these 

 facts, the following experiment may be given : 

 — One hundred sheep were put into a shed, 

 and ate 20 lbs. of Swedes each per day ; whilst 

 another hundred, in the open air, ate 25 lbs. 

 At the end of a given period, the former weighed 

 3 lbs. more than the latter ; which proves that, 

 to a certain extent, heat, with animals, is a sub- 

 stitute for food. This was also proved in other 

 experiments into which the effects of exercise 

 on the living animal entered. No. 1. — Eive 

 sheep were fed in the open air between the 

 21st of November and the 1st of December. 

 They consumed 90 lbs. of food per day, at a 

 temperature of about 44°. At the end of this 

 time they weighed 2 lbs. less than when first 

 exposed. No. 2. — Eive sheep were put under 

 shelter, and permitted to run at a temperature 

 of 49°. They consumed at first 82 lbs., then 

 70 lbs. per day, and increased in weight 23 lbs. 

 No. 3. — Eive sheep were put in tlie same shed, 

 but not allowed any exercise. They. ate, at 

 first, 64 lbs,, then 58 lbs., and increased in 

 weight 30 lbs. No. 4.— Eive sheep were kept 

 in the dark, quiet, and covered. They ate 

 35 lbs. per day, and increased in weight 8 lbs. 



Mr. Itichardson gives the following experi- 

 ments bearing closely upon this subject. 

 They were mostly made by Mr. Lawes. That 

 gentleman instituted a series of inquiries as to 

 the abstract food and increase in weif^ht of 

 these sheep in themselves, and also as com- 

 pared with the Hampshire Downs, assuming 

 the Sussex Down to be the type of the original 

 Southdown sheep. One disadvantage was, 

 tliat they had to be fed on dry food ; they had 

 740 



oil- cake and clover chaff. At first they had 

 food supplied in given quantities, and propor- 

 tioned to their weight. The quantity given, 

 per day, to the Hampshires was one pound of 

 each ; while to the Sussex Downs it was only 

 three-fourths of a pound of each per day 

 The former weighed 113^ lbs., and the latter 

 only 8S lbs. Swedes were also given ad 

 libitum, but from quantities previously weighed. 

 The sheep were fed for twenty-six weeks. 

 The Hampshires consumed 1,249 lbs. of oil- 

 cake, 1,120 lbs. of clover hay, and 16,995 lbs. 

 of Swedes; and the increase of live weight was 

 428 lbs. So much for the large sheep. The 

 smaller, or Sussex Downs, in fact, consumed 

 965 lbs. of oil-cake, 926 lbs. of clover hay, and 

 12,445 lbs. of Swedes, and gave an increase, in 

 live weight, of 324 lbs. To put it in a more 

 striking light, it required, to produce 100 lbs. 

 increase in live weight, the following quanti- 

 ties of each kind of food in the Hamp- 

 shires : — 



lbs. oz. 



Oil-cake . . . , 



Clover hay 



Swedes .... 



Or a total of food of all kinds . 4494 12 



Whereas the Sussex sheep required, to pro- 

 duce 100 lbs. live weight, the following quan- 

 tities: — 



Oil-cake . 

 Clover hay 

 Swedes 



Or a total of food of all kinds . 4704 7 



The Sussex sheep needed, therefore, in 

 twenty-six weeks, 20 lbs. 4oz. more oil-cake, 

 44 lbs. 7 oz. more clover hay, and 145 lbs. less 

 Swedes, to produce 100 lbs. live weight ; or 

 about 7 per cent, more oil-cake, I7i per cent, 

 more clover, and 3^ per cent, more Swedish 

 turnips, for the same result. The taste indi- 

 cated a difference in the animals : the Sussex 

 sold at about 3^. 2d. per stone of 8 lbs. ; the 

 Hampshire only 2s. 10\d. per stone ; and after 

 paying their way, and allowing for the pur- 

 chased food — the cake and hay — the forty 

 Hampshire sheep left a profit, as well as the 

 increase, of Gs. 7^d., and the Sussex, of Qs. O^d. 

 per head. The oil- cake is, however, reckoned 

 at only £6 15s. per ton, and the clover hay at 



