28 



POTATOES FOR STOCK FEEDING. 



[Sept. 1894. 



increase of the live weight of the animals, cooked potatoes should 

 be regarded as a first class food both for sheep and cattle, and 

 in any case as superior to beetroot. 



But apart from the gross increase in live weight it was con- 

 sidered desirable to ascertain the actual net yield, and the quality, 

 of the meat. In this respect the use of cooked potatoes is stated 

 to have produced results exceeding all expectation. The net 

 yield of meat rose on the average in the case of bullocks to 

 59'17 per cent, of the live weight. The bullocks in lot 2, which 

 received normal rations, dressed to 60*19 per cent. The usual 

 yield of meat from French bullocks is said to seldom exceed 53 

 to 56 per cent, of the live weight, so that the superiority in 

 weight amounted to 3-6 per cent, on the live weight. 



The sheep dressed to 51 per cent, of the live weight; the 

 average dressed weight of the same lot of sheep before the 

 beginning of the potato diet was only 41 per cent, of the live 

 weight. A dressed weight for sheep exceeding 50 per cent, of 

 the live weight is stated to be unusual. 



As regards quality, the meat is reported to have been altogether 

 superior, the flavour being rich and delicate. The experiment 

 appears, therefore, to have been completely successful not only 

 as regards the gross increase in live weight, but also as regards 

 the net quantity, and the quality, of the meat obtained. 



With reference to the question of cost, M. Girard estimates 

 the net profit to have been approximately as follows : — 



Rations. 



Profit per Head. 



("Beetroot - - 

 Bullocks fed on -r, . , f Normal ration . - - 

 F^^^^^^^ i Large ration - 



£ s. d. 

 1 16 3 

 4 3 10 

 3 4 11 



or r. n ^ , f Normal ration - - - - 

 Sheep fed on potatoes jj^^^g^^.^^.^^ - - 



0 4 5 

 0 3 Hi 



From this the conclusion is drawn that the normal ration 

 furnished the most economic and most remunerative results. 

 It is pointed out that in the case of both cattle and sheep there 

 is a certain limit beyond which the additional increase in live 

 weight entails so great an expenditure as to be economically 

 inexpedient. 



From the foregoing facts, M. Girard is of opinion that the 

 potato when healthy and well developed must henceforth be 

 regarded as a fodder yielding, in respect of the production of 

 meat, remarkable economic results. 



