CATTLE FEEDING. 153 



In giving some generalities which will be useful in composing 

 these various rations, the facts given in the former part of this paper 

 will be frech' used and applied. 



Bations of Sustenance Maintenance. Rations of maintenance 

 can only be fed to fully developed adult animals, as they are calcu- 

 lated not for any kind of production but simply to mainiain the 

 animal in good condition. From experiments made at AVcende, the 

 condition and weight of oxen were found to remain essentially 

 the same when fed with the following quantities of fodder for every 

 500 kilogrammes (about 1100 lbs.) of live weight. 



1 — 9.750 kilogrammes (21.45 lbs.) of dried clover. 



2— 1.850 kilos (4.07 lbs.) dried clover, 6.500 kilos (14.3 lbs.) 

 oat straw, .300 kilos (about 12 ozs.) rape seed cake. 



3— 1.300 kilos (2.86 lbs.) dried clover, 7.100 kilos (15.62 lbs.) 

 oat straw, .250 kilos (about \ lb.) rape seed cake. 



4— 1.900 kilos (4.18 lbs.) dried clover, 6.650 kilos (14.63 lbs.) 

 r3'e straw, .300 kilos (about 12 ozs.) rape seed cake. 



5— 12.800 kilos (28.16 lbs.) beets, 0.300 kilos (13.80 lbs.) oat 

 straw, 0.500 kilos (1.1 lb.) rape seed cake. 



The quantity of albumen decomposed and assimilated for every 

 500 kilogrammes (1100 lbs.) of live weight varied from .205 kilos. 

 (.451 lbs.) to 420 kilos (.924 lbs.) an average of .285 kilos (.627 lbs.) 

 The digestible carbohydrates varied from 3.520 kilos (7.744 lbs.) to 

 3.885* kilos, or an average 3.700t kilos; giving the nutritive rela- 

 tion 1 : 13. By keeping the barn at from 62° Fahr. to 68°.Fahr. 

 there was a slight increase in weight; the animals were all main- 

 tained in an excellent condition. 



In order to be sure of a good ration, it is, perhaps, best to increase 

 the above quantities and to have about .350 kilogrammes (.77 lbs.) 

 of albuminoids and 4.200 kilos (9.24 lbs.) of nutritive carbohydrates ; 

 giving a total of 4.550 kilos (10.01 lbs.) of nutritive substances, 

 having the relation 1:12. Such a ration could very economically 

 be composed of the cereal straws, to which would be added a fodder 

 rich in nitrogen. Roots could also be mixed with the ration. These 

 experiments have been applied in practice and the following exam- 

 ples may be given : The winter rations given to oxen were for J500 

 kilos, of live weight, daily : 



* 3.885 kilos = 8.547 lbs. f 3.700 kilos = 8.14 lbs. 4:500 kilos = 1100 lbs. 



