FEEDING SHEEP AND GOATS 321 
two pounds daily on approximately the same feed as eaten by ten 
sheep. Sheep are ruminants and consume considerable quantities 
of rough feed ; they, therefore, need smaller proportions of expen- 
sive grain feed than do swine. For these and other reasons the 
further development of the American sheep industry is a matter 
of great economic importance, especially in view of the decreasing 
ratio of meat-producing animals to our population, which is likely 
to continue with the rapid extension of the manufacturing industries 
in this country. 
Wool Production.—In feeding sheep, whether of the wool or 
mutton type, a growth of both wool and body tissue takes place. 
If only sufficient feed is given to maintain the sheep at an even 
body weight, the growth of wool is diminished, but does not stop 
entirely. When liberal fattening rations are fed, on the other hand, 
a normal growth'of wool results; this cannot be further increased 
by feeding heavier rations, so far as the wool fiber is concerned, 
but the weight of fleece obtained may be increased on account 
of the larger percentage of wool grease found therein. Wool is 
composed chiefly of the protein substance keratin, containing 4 to 
5 per cent sulfur, in addition to the usual components of protein, 
-carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (p. 22). Since the pro- 
duction of wool is a necessary accompaniment of sheep feeding, 
whether it is the main object sought or not, it follows that rations 
fed to sheep should contain considerable protein and have relatively 
narrow nutritive ratios, especially in the case of growing animals. 
We find, therefore, that the feeding standards call for a large 
amount of protein for growing sheep and breeding ewes. 
Fattening Sheep.—Mature fattening sheep do’ not, however, re- 
quire more protein in their feed than the same class of steers, since 
there is very litile new formation of tissue in the case of these 
animals, the increase during the fattening period being made up 
largely of fat. This is shown by the analyses of sheep at different 
stages of fattening which were made by Lawes and Gilbert, of 
Rothamsted Experiment Station, about the middle of the last cen- 
tury. The composition.of the increase from store to fattened con- 
dition, and from fat to very fat condition, is given below: 
Composition of Increase of Fattening Sheep, in Per Cent 
weer a Ash Protein Fat 
Increase from store to fat condition.| 78.0 2.12 7.16 68.8 
Increasefromfattoveryfatcondition | 81.8 3.12 7.75 70.9 
21 
