ANIM.VL I'HODUCTION. 



971 



Composition and digestibility of enanaer, J. A. IIummei, (Minnesota St a. 

 Bill. !>!>, pp. J.l.i-l.iS). — Tlx' digestibility of whole and firoiind eniincr fed with 

 iilfalfa hay and of alfalfa hay alone was determined in experiments with sheep. 

 The average results follow: 



Average dii/c.stihililij of (inincr (nut alfalfn haij — JJ.rprriincntfi icith tihcvi). 



As shown by the results, a ration of emmer and alfalfa Iiay when fed to 

 sheep has a high di,irestil)ility, especially as regai'ds protein and nitrogen-free 

 extract. "There was a much more complete digestion (if the ration of hay and 

 grahi thau of the ration of hay alone." The results also show a high digesti- 

 bility for emmer. " In localities where emmer can be grown successfully it 

 will be found a valuable addition to the ration of growing or fattening cattle." 



lu connection with the digestion experiments the urine was collected and 

 analyzed in order that the balance of income and outgo of nitrogen might be 

 determined. 



The heat-producing value of the crude fat of fodders and grains, H. Sny- 

 der {Minnesota Sta. Jiiil. !>'.). pp. ISU, I'/O). — In di^'cussions of energy value 

 ether extract is assumed to yield !».."> calories per gram, which is the average 

 value obtained when fat is burned in a bomb calorimeter. To ascertain whether 

 this factor is accurate the heat of combustion of the ether extract of several 

 kinds of coarse fodder was determined, the results being as follows: Corn 

 fodder 8.047, corn silage 7..")4."», clover hay S.Oot!, and timothy hay' 8.220 calories 

 per gram. 



"When the fats of wheat and barley were extracted and burned in the calo- 

 rimeter they yielded 9.:34 and O.iM calories, respectively, indicating that with 

 these cereals the ether extract has practically the same caloric value as pure 

 fat." 



It is evident that the figures for coarse fodder are from 11 to 20 per cent 

 lower than the theoretical value and this difference is attributed to the pres- 

 ence of nonfatty material, such as chlorophyll, in the ether extract. To secure 

 additional data regarding the proportion of such nonfatty bodies present deter- 

 minations were made of the nitrogen content of ether extract and the following 

 l)ercentages were obtained: Clover hay 0.174, timothy hay 0.153, corn 0.002, 

 oats 0.068, barley 0.047, and wheat 0.04."> per cent. 



"The nitrogenous matter in the ether extract from the grains was found to 

 be much less than in that from the coarse fodders, as clover and timothy. In 

 the case of wheat and barley, if all of the nitrogiMi of the ether extract is con- 

 sidered present as lecithin, there would be less than 8 per cent of this material. 



"The heat of combustion of the ether extract of grains indicates that in the 

 calculation of rations it may be regarded as having the same energy value as 

 fat : in coarse foddei-s. however, the ether extract has an energy value of 11 to 

 20 |ier cent Ie-<s than fat. . . . 



34021—07 6 



