196 
Experiments on the Feeding of Sheep. 
Avas intcntled, the amount of oil-cake consumed by a given 
weight of animal within a given time was almost identical for the 
two periods ; the estimated amount of hay-chaff was, however, 
always less, and that of the roots in some cases less, and in others 
more, in the second period than in the first. 
But it is in the third division of this Table, which shows the 
dry suhstance of the foods consumed per 100 lbs. live-iocight per week, 
that we have the best comparison afforded between the rate of 
consumption during the earlier and the later periods of fattening. 
The figures in the last two columns show that, with every one of 
the descriptions of sheep, the average proportion consumed was 
rather less during the second period ; that is to say, as the 
animals became fatter. The difference is, however, but small; 
nor can the whole of it be taken as representing so much less 
of real assimilable or respirable matter. The lessened con- 
sumption of dry substance in the second period is chiefly in the 
hay, which contains a much larger proportion of indigestible 
woody-fibre than either of the other descriptions of food ; whilst 
the consumption of the dry matter of oil-cake, which would have 
a higher respiratory and nutritive capacity than that of either 
of the other foods, was always equal, and sometimes greater, in 
the second period than the first. 
So far then as we may judge of the rate of consumption during 
the whole of the extra-fattening period from the results obtained 
when the foods were actually weighed, there is but little evidence 
of a lessened rate of consumption in relation to the weights of 
the animals as they matured. It is very probable, however, that 
during the hot season, when the sheep were feeding upon green 
clover or grass, their rate of consumption was in reality rather 
Taelow, instead of, as we have assumed it, equal to, that of the 
other portions of the time. If so, this would somewhat reduce 
the average consumption over the whole period, and the average 
would then undoubtedly be somewhat lower for the second 
period than for the first. The evidence must be taken as, upon 
the whole, in favour of the conclusion that it was so. 
In the case of pigs, it is found that the consumption in pro- 
portion to the weight of the animal decreases very considerably 
as it fattens. But the dry substance of the food of the pig contains 
a much larger proportion of assimilable and respirable matter, and 
a much less proportion of indigestible woody-fibre, than does that 
of the sheep. The pig, too, consumes a much larger amount of 
dry substance of food, in relation to its weight within a given 
time, and gives also a much larger amount of increase for a given 
amount of dry substance consumed. We should not expect, 
therefore, to find so marked a diminution in the rate of consump- 
tion of the fattening sheep, as in that of the fattening pig. Still, 
