I/O 



Rations for Farm Stock. 



In experiments conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society 

 at Woburn excellent results were produced with older sheep 

 by means of the following ration per sheep per week : — 



5. — 140 lb. Swedes 

 2 Hay 

 5 ,, Whole Wheat 



which gives a slightly wider albuminoid ratio than either I, 

 2, or 3 above named. Grain must be given to sheep whole, 

 not as with cows in the form of meal. 



The following sheep-feeding trials, also carried out at 

 Woburn, are instructive from man)' points of view, though their 

 original purpose was to determine the relative values in the 

 sheep's diet of rough fodders and dried grains. The sheep were 

 fine Hampshire Down hoggs, each weighing on an average in 

 each lot 123 lb., and the feeding trial lasted 23 weeks : — 



Consumed per head , 1( .. Gained per head 



r , Allxi. Ratio. r , 



per week. per week. 



Lot 1. — 176 lb. Roots ") 



2| ,, Oat Straw Chaff > I to 67 2-83 lb. 



4 J ,, Linseed Cake ... J 



Lot 2. — 173 ,. Roots i 



2-4 Hay > 1 to 6-5 2*97 „ 



4! ,, Linseed Cake ... ) 



Lot 3. — 174 Roots "S 



*■ ( Oat Straw and ' . rr 



26 » I Hay Chaff ... C 1 t0 6 6 3 ° 3 » 



4i ,, Linseed Cake... .) 



Lot 4. — 1 7 1 , , Roots 



2| ,, Dried Grains ... > 1 to 6-1 2-86 „ 



4t Linseed Cake... ) 



I 



These results plainly show that narrowing the albuminoid 

 ratio by the substitution of dried grains for hay or straw was an 

 expensive proceeding in both directions, fpr the initial cost of the 

 food was much greater, and the rate of increase was less. Other 

 experiments have also shown that a further widening of the 

 ratio by replacing about one-third of this quantity of cake with 

 corn or hay, makes the feeding more profitable, and practically 

 reduces these rations to something like the nutritive standard of 

 Rations 1, 2 and 3. The rate of increase in weight of each 

 lot was highly satisfactory, though that of Lot 3 was the most 

 rapid, and this lot proved the most profitable from every point 

 of view. When the weight of the sheep and the food consumed 

 by this lot and those.fed on Ration 1 above described respec- 



