CHAPTER XXIX. 



INTESTIGATIONS "WITH SHEEP. 



732. Periods of gestation. — Tessier, in a report to the Academy 

 of Sciences, Paris, * gives the results of his observations on the 

 period of gestation of 912 ewes. The shortest period for the ewe 

 carrying her lamb was 146 days, and the longest 161, a range of 

 15 days. More than three-fourths of the ewes yeaned between 

 the 150th and 154th day after impregnation, bringing the average 

 about 152 days, or 21 weeks and 5 days. Eandall's statement^ 

 as to the period of gestation coincides with that of Tessier. 



733. Composition of ewe's milk. — Konig' gives the composi- 

 tion of ewe's milk as below. For comparison, the table gives the 

 average composition of cow's nulk as stated by the same author. 



Oomposition of ewe's milk, cow's milk being given for comparison — 



Konig. 



734. Ewe's milk. — In America sheep are not generally used for 

 producing milk for man, as in many districts abroad, especially 

 in mountain regions, where this milk is extensively employed, 

 partly for direct consumption and partly for the manufacture of 

 cheese. Ewe' s milk differs from cow' s milk mainly in its greater 

 proportion of fat and protein. Much higher percentages than 



> According to Colmau, Sheep of Great Britain, p. 260. 

 2 The Practical Shepherd, p. 207. .^^ , -, ,,,„ 



» Chem. d. mensch. Nahr.-u. Genuss-mittel, 1, lllA 



