132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fat, and is properly fed, increase 100 kilos (220 lbs.) for every 400 

 kilos (880 lbs.) of dr}- fodder. In ease the pigs are old, it will take 

 at least 500 to GOO kilos (1,100 lbs. to 1,320 lbs.) of dry fodder to 

 produce a similar increase. 



Although it is necessary at the beginning of the fattening process 

 to give rations rich in albuminoids, it must be done with care and 

 observation, as it often affects the health of the animals. It is well 

 never to give fodder richer in albuminoids than that represented by 

 the relation 1 : 4| or 1:5, and to diminish that ration from the 

 sixth month on until it becomes 1 : G^. It is usually necessary to 

 add smaller quantities of chalk to the ration, especially of young 

 animals. Among the fodders used most successfull}' for pigs, must 

 be mentioned barley meal, corn meal and pea meal. These can be 

 given alone or mixed with steamed potatoes. Oatmeal and different 

 kinds of bran have not proved as valuable as the first mentioned. 

 Skimmed, sour or butter milk are excellent additions to food for 

 pigs, and often render accceptable that which without them would 

 be rejected. 



Rations for Working Horses and Cattle. 



An animal to be used for work should have a vigorous constitu- 

 tion and great muscular development. In order to keep such an 

 organism in good condition it is evident that it must be supplied 

 with large quantities of fodder rich in albuminoids, especially while 

 at work, for though albumin does not suffer decomposition more 

 rapidh' during work than when at rest, neveij^heless it must be 

 abundantly' supplied, as the source of muscular activit}' is the change 

 which albumin undergoes in the bod}^, and it must be remembered 

 that while the rapidity' of the transformations of the albuminoids 

 depends upon the quantity and condition of them supplied in the 

 food, the oxidation of fat is increased b}"^ muscular effort. 



As the loss of fatt}' substance is very great during protracted 

 work, it becomes very necessary to give food rich in fats or in carbo- 

 hj'drates ; the former are the most useful, being the most concen- 

 trated of the so-called respiratoiy elements of fodder. For working 

 oxen the daily ration should contain for every 500 kilos (1100 lbs.) 

 of live weight, 0.800 kilos (1.76 lbs.) of digestible albuminoids and 

 G kilos (13.2 lbs.) of digestible carbohydrates, giving the nutritive 

 ratio 1 : 7^. Hay of medium quality, to which small quantities of 



