On the Fattening of Oxen. 
201 
system tor the collection and preservation of the manure — to de- 
termine the quantity and composition of which constituted one 
important object of the experiments. 
The results were from time to time communicated to His 
Grace as tin; experiments proceeded ; but it is to be refj^rettcd 
that the publication of them did not take place before his lamented 
death. It was found, as the incjuiries connected with the feeding 
of animals extended and ramified, and the results accumulated, 
that it would be necessary to aixange them for publication under 
three separate heads, which should be treated of somewhat in 
order as follows : First, those relating to the amounts of food, or 
its several constituents, consumed by a given weight of animal 
Avithin a given time, or required to produce a given amount of 
increase in live-weight. Of these we have already given 
numerous records in this Journal so far as sheep and pigs 
are concerned ; and in the present number we add a short 
report relating to sheep. It is the object of the present commu- 
nication to give the results of the experiments with oxen at 
Woburn, so far as they relate to this first division of tlie subject, 
and thus to complete for the present, our reports on that branch 
of the inquiry. The second main branch of the subject is that 
of the composition of the animals, and of tlieir increase whilst 
fattening ; and on this we gave a report in the last number of the 
Journal, relating to all of the three descriptions of animal — oxen, 
sheep, and pigs. The third branch includes the question ef the 
composition of the manure in relation to that of the food con- 
sumed ; and upon this we now hope to report in an early suc- 
ceeding number of the Journal. 
In the conduct of the experiments at Woburn our plans were 
cordially seconded by Mr. Bennett ; and every facility and assist- 
ance were afforded throughout tlieir progress by Mr. G. W. Baker. 
Had the object been only to determine the average amounts of 
food, of known composition, consumed in relation to a given 
weight of animal within a given time, or required to produce a 
given amount of increase in live-weight, it would doubtless have 
been desirable to continue each experiment for several months ; 
so as to get average results unaffected by the incidental circum- 
stances of change of food, condition of individual animals, <Scc, 
But owing to the great difficulty of dealing with the very large 
quantities of manure that would then be involved, eight to nine 
weeks was the longest period over which it was attempted to 
weigh, and sample carefully for analysis, the food, litter, and dung, 
of the animals. Hence the results relating to the amount of 
increase obtained for food consumed must be taken as applying 
only to the few final weeks of high feeding. 
Six experiments were made ; one with 1 1 ; one with 12 ; three 
