164 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The result of the experiment is given in the following table 



It is seen that there is a great difference in the rate of increase 

 of the 3'oung animals. It was thought that the fat in the ration 

 exerted a great influence upon the increase in weight of young stock, 

 but it seems probable that this is more influenced by the total 

 quantit}' of organic substances in the fodder. It is to be observed 

 that the fodder richest in albuminoids and having the nutritive rela- 

 tion or ratio 1 : 2 5-100 gave the least increase ; the reason is that 

 the exaggerated quantit}- of the albuminoids in the ration caused a 

 rapid transformation and the destruction of these substances in the 

 organism. It is probable that in the feeding of .young animals a 

 part of the fat may be advantageously replaced b}' some easily 

 digestible carbohydrates, such as sugar of milk ; thus admitting of 

 the economical use of whey or skimmed milk, to which might be 

 added a little sugar or starch. 



Milk of normal composition is the natural food for 3'Oung calves, 

 and when an}' mixtures are made it should be with a view to obtain 

 food, having as nearly as possible the digestive ratio 1 : 4|, which is 

 the average ratio of milk, the extremes being 1 : 3.3 to 1 : 5.5. 

 There will be an increase of about 1 kilogramme (2.2 lbs.) in the 

 weight of the animals for every 10 kilos (22 lbs.) of milk fed them. 

 It must be remembered that the calf should have the milk of its 

 own mother immediately after partui'ition, and for sometime, as at 

 that period it is colostrum and necessary to the voung animal. 

 When the process of weaning commences it is of the greatest im- 

 portance to make the transition from the milk-diet to the other food 

 as gradual as possible, so that there may be no falling off in the 

 development of the organism. For this purpose cooked linseed 

 meal, and, later, linseed cake are very appropriate, while we also 



