CATTLE FEEDING. 137 



Fatty substance. There can be hut little doubt that manj' plant 

 fats are directl}' and easily assimilated by animals, and that the 

 quantit}' contained in fodder eaten has an important etfect on its 

 nutritive value. It does not seem proved that the addition of oil or 

 fats to a ratibn increases to an}- great extent the digestibility' of its 

 other constituents. Some authorities, however, advance the idea 

 that the addition of fats increases the quantit}' of digested albumin- 

 oids and carbohydrates, especially cellulose. Most of the experi- 

 ments have given such contradictory results that it would seem safer 

 to take a contrary view. 



One must l)e guarded against mixing fats or oil for any length of 

 time in the rations of ruminants, as it lessens the appetite and dis- 

 tur])s the digestive processes. Fatty substance, when given in some 

 naturally combined form, such as cotton seed or linseed cake, seems 

 much less injurious than when added to rations in the shape of oil 

 or fats. 



Common salt is recognized by everybody as a useful adjunct in 

 the feeding of cattle. It does not seem to increase the digestibility 

 of fodder, except in, perhaps, a single instance in which the amount 

 of digested albuminoids was increased by the addition of salt to the 

 ration. Its action generallj^ seems to be as an appetizer, giving the 

 food taken b}^ the animal greater relish, and inducing it to eat a 

 larger quantity'. Salt in small quantity is absolutely necessar}' for 

 the life of the animal ; it is found in all parts of the body and seems 

 to aid in the dittusiou of the nutritive elements of food throughout 

 the S3'stem. 



Potash in small qnantit}' seems quite necessary for the health of 

 the animal. This is generally found abundantly enough in common 

 fodder. As before noted, the presence of phosphate of lime is 

 absolutel}' necessary in the rations of our domestic stock. Its pres- 

 ence does not seem to affect the digestibilit}'^ of the fodder to any 

 extent, but unless present in sufficient quantity the animal is sure to 

 suffer. It is especially necessary for growing animals and milch 

 cows. 



An experiment made at Proskau upon two milch goats, shows the 

 importance of giving a sufficiency of phosphoric acid and lime to 

 stock. One goat was fed with fodder poor in phosphoric acid, and 

 the other with fodder poor in lime ; at the end of fifty days both 

 died. The bones were found to be normal, therefore the phosphoric 

 acid and lime which were found in the milk, urine, etc. of the goats, 



