322 



PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



By comparing the figures given in the table with the correspond- 

 ing data for fattening mature steers, it will be seen that sheep build 

 up more fat and less protein (lean meat) during the fattening 

 process than do steers, and the increase in weight consists of more 

 dry substance than in case of these animals (p. 257). 



Eesults obtained by Henneberg and Kern with three mature 

 wethers slaughtered at different stages of the fattening period 

 illustrate the changes that occur in the composition of the carcass 

 of sheep during fattening. 2 One wether was slaughtered and the 

 carcass analyzed at the beginning of the trial, when in a lean con- 

 dition ; another after 70 days of fattening, when half fat, and the 

 third one at the end of 203 days of fattening, when extra fat. The 

 table shows the contents of lean meat and fat in the case of three 

 wethers : 



Effect of Fattening on the Carcasses of Mature Sheep 



We note that there was no material change in the content of 

 lean meat in the three animals, but the per cent of fat in the carcass 

 increased from about 12 to 42 per cent during the fattening process, 

 assuming that the three wethers had a similar composition at the 

 beginning of the trials. This increase in the per cent of fat was 

 accompanied by a decrease in the water content of the carcass during 

 the fattening, as has been previously shown. 



Weight of Lambs at Birth. — Lambs will weigh from six to ten 

 pounds at birth, according to the size of the ewes and the breed. 

 The average weight of single lambs of several breeds reported by 

 Humphrey and Kleinheinz from records obtained with the Wis- 

 consin station flock 3 was 9.5 pounds; of twins, 8.0 pounds; and of 

 triplets, 6.8 pounds. The figures for the main breeds were, on the 

 average, for Montana range sheep, Shropshire, and Southdowns be- 

 tween 7 and 8 pounds; for Oxford and Cheviots between 8 and 9 

 pounds, and for Hampshire and Downs between 9 and 10 pounds. 

 Earn lambs average about one-half pound heavier at birth than ewe 

 lambs. 



2 J. f. Landw., 26, p. 549. 

 •Report 1907. 



