400 



MAKITAL OB^ GATTLE-FEEDINa. 



ply of protein. As already stated in anotlier connection, 

 nunieious experiments on the fattening of foheep have been 

 carried out at the varions German experiment stations. In 

 the following table, by Wolii; already given on page 178, 

 lifty-nine of these experiments are divided into fonr 

 gronps, according to the amount of digestible protein con- 

 tained in the fodder. The average weight of the animals 

 ^vas about ninety pounds. 



No. of Experiments. 



7 

 13 

 20 

 19. 



DiGEbTED PKB DAY AND HEAD. 

 AVi-KAtrE. 



Albuini- 



1101(]S. 



Lbs. 



0.220 

 0.208 

 0.;]29 

 0.384 



Non nitro- 

 genous 

 iiiitncut'' 

 Lbb 



1.648 

 1.557 

 1.588 

 1.538 



Total 



nutrients. 



Lbs. 



1.808 

 1.825 

 1.917 

 1. 



Nutritive 

 ratio. 



1 : 7.49 

 1 :5.81 

 1 :4.70 

 1 :4.01 



Incie i^^c 



of hvo 



■weiglit pel 



duy .intl 



head. 



Lbs 



0.111 

 0.158 

 0.189 

 0.200 



Dressed 

 wi iK^it ni 

 pci tent. 



of hvo 

 w eiglit. 



48.0 

 51.9 



54.9 



These results show plainly the importance of a libera] 

 supply of protein in the fodder of fattening sheep. While 

 the total amount of nutrients digested was nearly the 

 same in all* the groups, those in which the propoj-tion 

 of protein was greatest show not only a more rapid gain 

 but also a larger proportion of dressed weight to live 

 weight. 



Feeding Standard. — ^As in the case of cattle, it is im- 

 posbible to give any single standard suited to all cases. 

 Any one of the rations of the foregoing table might seive 

 as a feeding standard, the fattening 1)eing more rapid, and 

 at the same time more expensive, the greater the propor- 

 tion of protein. 



