CHAPTER XXXIX 



SOME IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE 



AND ECONOMY OF GAIN IN FATTENING 



SHEEP AND LAMBS 



The Effect of Age. On Rate of Body Development. The 



rate of growth in sheep decreases as they approach maturity. 

 Senequier, 1 in investigating the body development of ten ewes of 

 the milking breed of Larzac, observed that the most rapid increase 

 in weight was during the first two months, and three-fourths of 

 the increase was made during the first year. During the second 

 year the rate of gain was slower and it was still slower from the 

 twenty-fifth month to maturity. The weight at two months was 

 about one-third of the average weight at maturity; at the fifth 

 month, one-half; between the sixth and seventh months, two- 

 thirds; and between the eighth and ninth months, three-fourths 

 of the adult weight. They were considered mature at the comple- 

 tion of the second dentition, which was reached at from thirty- 

 eight to forty-one months. 



Fattening Sheep of Different Ages. Lambs of feeder age 

 (above five months) and in feeder condition gain somewhat more 

 rapidly in weight and make considerably more economical use 

 of feed than do older sheep. But since they grow as well as fatten, 

 they require a little longer feeding period and a ration containing 

 a higher percentage of protean. As compared with yearlings and 

 wethers, they are not so well adapted to handling coarse feeds and 

 feeds in slightly damaged condition, although it is seldom good 

 policy to give feed of poor quality as musty or mouldy feed- 

 to any class of fattening sheep. Lambs also require a little more 

 careful supervision than do yearlings and wethers, for they are 

 more likely to go " off feed/' and they are not quite so well adapted 

 to running in the open without shelter. 



As a rule, feeders who are properly equipped' with shelter and 

 feed, prefer to handle lambs because they not only ma.ke more gain 



1 " Ahnales Agronomiques " 21, 1885, No. 9. 

 24 369 



