352 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



The next cattle under experiment were eight heifers which 

 had scarcely attained their full growth. After allowing a 

 short time for change of food, they gained evenly and steadily 

 throughout sixteen weeks, during which their weight increased 

 from 71 to 9| cwt. each (on the average), being 141bs. per 

 week. They were supplied with turnips or other green food 

 at the rate of 601bs. per day — with chopped straw, together 

 with 41bs. rape-cake and 21bs. of bean-meal each per day for 

 ten weeks; from this time, during six weeks, to the conclusion 

 of the experiment, 31bg. each per day of rapi-cake in addition, 

 making 71b9. rape cake and 21bs. bean-meal per day for each. 

 I supply the amount and description of food for 21 days, 

 during which the 71b8. of rape and 21b3. of bean-meal per day 

 to each were given :— 



Nitrogen in Rape cake 5904 



„ Beans 16-75 



„ ShellBofoats g- 



„ Turnips 28- 



Hay 12- 



123-79 

 lbs. 



In 9,6001b3. excrement Nitrogen 7584 



In I691b3. flesh dry fibrine, 38-87 = Nitrogen 624 



Nitrogen spent in perspiration 



82- 8 

 41-71 



123-79 

 The gain in weight during these 21 days was 3381bs.,or 141b3. 

 each per week. The proportion of flesh is assumed to be 

 lC91bs., or one-half the gain of weight, and seems ample, 

 though the cattle were still growing. 



The analysis of the excrement by Professor Way, gives of 



Moisture 8492 



Organic matter, with salts of ammonia 12-12 



Sand -93 



Phosphate of lime '72 



Alkalies, sulphate?, &c 1-31 



100-00 

 Nitrogen 79 = ammonia -96. 



Barrall states the proportion of the nitrogen which escapes 

 by perspiration as one-third or one-fourth of that in the food. 

 Bousaingault found that in a cow giving milk there was an 

 escape of 1350 per cent, of the nitrogen, whilst a turtle dove 

 parts with 3504 per cent, of this element. This loss of 

 nitrogen seems hitherto to have been little noticed by practical 

 feeders. It seems possible that this loss may be increased by 

 too liberal a supply of albuminous matter in the food. 



The next experiment was on eight cattle, and commenced 

 March, 1855 : the first six weeks after they were tied up, their 

 food consisted of chopped straw, shells of oats, and bean- 

 straw, in about equal proportions ; 41bs. of rape-cake, lib. 

 bean-meal, ^ib. linseed, and ^Ib. wheat ground together, and 

 SOlbs. swedes per day. The straw, &c., were cooked by steam- 

 ing. On this food two of the heifers had gained 91bs. each in 

 the month's weighing, the others 161b8. and ISlbs. each per 

 week ; the average being somewhat more than 141b3. per week. 



• Chiefly consumed in respiration and perspiration, the re- 

 mainder being converted into flesh, fat, &c. 



A sample of the excrement was sent on the 26th of March to 



Professor Way for analysis, which gives of 



Iba. 



Moisture 83-81 



Organic matter 13-44 



Sand, &c "93 



Phosphate of lime '64 



Common salt -18 



Sulphate of soda and potash '9S 



99-95 

 Nitrogen -51 = ammonia '62. 

 The yield of excrement is at the rate of about 9^ tons per 

 year ; value, Ss. 6d. per ton; or Is. 7d. per week for each. 



My store of turnips being exhausted with March, an addi- 

 tional proportion of bean-straw, with the above-mentioned al- 

 lowance of rape-cake, bean-meal, linseed, and wheat ground 

 together, was supplied till the 24th of May, when a portion of 

 meadow-grass was mixed witn the straw, and by degrees the 

 straw was discontinued ; when mown grass, together with the 

 same allowance of extra food, was given till the close of June, 

 when the lot were of prime quality, and sold for the top 

 market price. Up to the close of May their gain averaged 

 over 141b3. per week ; during June they gained something less 

 than 141bs. per week. On the 29th of June a sample of 

 excrement was sent to Professor Way, who reported its 

 contents of 



lbs. 



Moisture 84-90 



Organic matter 11-94 



Sand -86 



Phosphate of lime 1*33 



Common salt '24 



Sulphate of soda and potash '76 



100-00 

 Nitrogen -94 = ammonia 1'14. 



The yield of excrement was at the rate of 9^ tons per year, 

 and its value in ammonia and phosphate of lime may be com- 

 puted at 15s. per ton, being at the rate of 2s. lO^d. per week 

 for each, to which the sulphate of potaah will be an appreciable 

 addition. 



It will be observed that the bulk of food supplied when this 

 sample of excrement was sent for analysis was meadow-grass, 

 at the time of year when it is rich in nitrogen, and this would 

 materially affect the proportion of nitrogen in the excrement. 

 It would have afforded a more correct test of my views as to 

 the disposition of animals to assimilate more of nitrogen in 

 the early, and of fat in the later, stages of feeding if the same 

 food had been continued throughout. Still when I find in the 

 advanced stage of feeding the excrement doubly rich in nitro- 

 gen, with scarcely an equal gain in weight, this tends to con- 

 firm such an inference. 



It seems probable that the supply of extra food, during 

 June, as far as regards the nitrogenous principle, was super- 

 fluous. The cost of this extra food is Ss. 2^d. per week ; the 

 increase in the value of the excrement will be about Is. 7d., as 

 the excrement without the extra food would probably have been 

 worth Is. 6d. per week. 



On each occasion the sample of excrement sent for analysis 

 was taken from the quantity of solid and liquid evacuated 

 during the preceding 24 hours, well blended and sent oflF quite 

 fresh. 



These experiments were concluded in June, 1855, since when 

 my treatment has undergone some modifications. 



Efficacy of Sugar and Starch in the production of Fat.— 

 I now call attention to a subject which has been long a matter 

 of controversy amongst the teachers of agricultural chemistry, 

 and which may be considered as barely settled — the efficacy 

 of sugar and starch in the production of fat. In the Highland 

 Agricultural Society's Journal I find |well-authenticated and 

 reliable statements by Mr. Hope of Teuton Barns and others, 

 to the effect that cattle supplied with turnips — 170 lbs. to 

 180 lbs. per day, with 5 lbs. of straw per day — had gained 

 throughout a course of feeding 14 lbs. per week — a gain I 

 scarcely found exceeded, taking the average of a lot for a 

 lengthened course. From various analyses of these materials, 

 and selecting those of good average quality, I deduce the fol- 

 lowing proportions in lbs. for 24 weeks :— 



