66 THE SHEPHERD'S MANUAL. 



fleece rich in oil or yolk, as that of a pure-bred Merino, those 

 foods which would furnish abundant flesh should be chosen for the 

 one, and those rich in starch and oil for the others. By thus 

 choosing judiciously and skillfully, there is an economy in the cost 

 of the food, and the object sought is gained at the least expense. 



Much may be gained by varying or mixing the food of an ani- 

 mal so as to stimulate the appetite ; for a healthy animal will in- 

 crease in weight in proportion to the food consumed so long as di- 

 gestion and assimilation are perfect. If a sheep only eat 3 Ibs. 

 of hay per day, but will eat and digest in addition 6 Ibs. of sliced 

 turnips or beets, with a pound of bran sprinkled upon them, a 

 manifest advantage is gained. If changing the hay for straw, 10 

 Ibs. of turnips and 1 Ib. of bran or oil-cake-meal can be consumed, 

 the money value of the food ma} r be reduced, and the sheep be 

 equally well fed. 



In estimating the amount of a sheep's food, it is necessary to 

 take into consideration the age and condition of the animal. 

 Whether it be in a growing state or in a state of maturity, its 

 weight, and also the drain upon its vitality, as in the case of a ram 

 serving a number of ewes daily ; or a ewe in lamb, or suckling a 

 lamb or a pair of them. On this account it is absolutely necessary 

 to grade the flock and provide different quarters for those which 

 need special feeding or care. As a guide for the estimation of a 

 proper quantity of food, and for a judicious selection of the kinds 

 which may be fed, it will be useful to consider the following 

 instances. 



In an experiment recently made by Dr. Voelcker, the chemist 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, four sheep 

 were fed for seven weeks upon 196 Ibs. of clover hay, 49 Ibs. of 

 linseed-cake-meal, and 3,743 Ibs. of mangels ; equal to a daily ra- 

 tion for each of 1 Ib. of clover hay, 4 ounces of linseed-cake-meal, 

 and 19| Ibs. of mangels. 



The nutritive elements contained in this daily ration were equiva- 

 lent to 4i ounces of flesh formers, 53 ounces of fat formers, and 

 4f ounces of mineral matter. 



Upon this mixed diet the sheep thrived and gained weight as 

 follows : 



Gain in 

 weight. 

 17V4 Ibs. 

 IT*/* " 

 17 " 

 20 " 



