Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Feed Conversion by Sheep

Although, to-day, we are not supposed to be comparing the efficiencies with which the various classes of farm livestock convert animal feedstuffs to human food, it is worth recalling that dairy cattle are much more efficient in this connexion than are the larger meat-producing animals (Brody, 1945; Leitch & Godden, 1953).Now dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep do not differ greatly in their digestive capacities, and it is instructive to inquire briefly into the origin of the very considerable difference in their efficiencies as food producers.