Comparative Fattening Qualities of Sheep. 43 J 



as our o-round of selection the point of the rate of increase, which 

 is certainly an important character in a fatting animal, we have at 

 least, as reijards this point, obtained a considerable desrree of 

 "uniformity in the average of each lot, as compared with that of the 

 whole. The chief exception is the first lot of the Hampshires, 

 and the high average weight of increase here seen is due to the 

 excessive rate of gain of the 4 largest animals of this breed ; and, 

 as wiW be seen, the selection according to increase, which has 

 thus drawn out these animals for killmg, has satisfactorily led 

 to an explanation of their comparatively rapid gain in weight. 

 Three out of the four of them were, indeed, what are termed 



riggs," or were onlv half- castrated, and hence thev grew in 

 frame enormously. They would, doubtless, be masters of all 

 the other sheep, and always secure the lion's share of food, or at 

 least make whatever selection of it they chose. 



Another benefit of the mode of selection adopted was. that as 

 rate of increase is really the great question at issue, we by this 

 means secured for killing at home, and taking the weights of all 

 the parts, those animals in which the maximum, the minimum, 

 and the mean tendency to increase had been manifested, so that 

 if there w^ere any clearly defined connection between the rate of 

 increase on the one hand, and the relation of dead weights to live 

 on the other, this seemed likely to be brought to light in the 

 results. 



In the following Table are given some of the main particulars 

 of the animals whilst alive, by the side of those obtained on 

 killing them : 



