164 



Sheep Feeding Experiments. 



•extra to fit them for the market. At the end of the experi- 

 ment, when the carcases were weighed, it was found that the 

 hay-fed lot were nearly 2 lbs. per head heavier. That gain 

 was got at the cost of 50 lbs. of hay per head and about three 

 weeks longer keep. It was reckoned that the hay-feeding 

 had resulted in a loss of about 3s. per head. Had the sheep 

 not been getting cake it is probable that the hay-feeding 

 would have been found profitable, but there was no lot fed on 

 turnips alone to prove that. 



One or two other points may be noticed. It has been 

 shown that a preponderance of farinaceous matter in the 

 fodder increases the proportion of fat in the carcase, while a 

 preponderance of nitrogenous (albuminoid) matter increases 

 the production of wool. It has also been shown that what 

 is known as the albuminoid or nutrient ratio is no satisfactory 

 guide to feeding when applied to the total fodder of sheep 

 consuming a dietary consisting of turnips and by-fodders 

 either with or without hay. As regards the quality of the 

 mutton produced, the opinion of the butchers employed was 

 that dried grains produced the best mutton, and that the 

 mutton of the lot in whose dietary maize took a part was just 

 about as good. 



A. P. AlTKEN. 



