MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEBIlSra. 301 



To sum up the wlaole matter, tlie growth of wool is> a 

 process which goes on with tolerable uniformity as long as 

 the animal lives, and whose rapidity is determined by breed 

 and individual peculiarities, and only secondarily and with- 

 in rather narrow limits by the food. All that is necessary 

 or profitable in the way of feeding is to keep the sheep in 

 good condition ; if they lose weight seriously, the yield of 

 wool suffers to some extent, though the animals suffer more, 

 while, on the other hand, fattening is simply an unneces- 

 sary use of fodder so long as wool is the sole object, since 

 it does not increase the amount of the latter. 



The feeding standards already given may be safely taken 

 as a guide, since they appear to be abundantly sufficient 

 to maintain a good, well-fed condition. It has, however, 

 been generally fonnd that when the fodder consists largely 

 of roots and straw^, more digestible protein is required than 

 when it is composed mostly of hay. We have already 

 learned that a large part of the " crude protein " of roots 

 is really not protein at all, and we have here, perhaps, an 

 indication of the less nutritive value of the non-protein. 



