506 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



COLLECTION OF THE FECES. 



The quantitative eollection of the feces is effected in different ways 

 in the case of different kinds of animals. In experiments with steers 

 the stall (fig. 1) is arranged with a manger which may be moved for- 

 ward or backward to suit the size of the animal, and raised or lowered. 

 The floor of the stall is of asphalt, inclining slightly toward the center, 

 with a hole at this point through which passes the tube from the urine 

 funnel. 



At the rear is a drop (A) 4 ft. long and 20 in. wide; and an upright 

 partition extends the entire length of each side of the stall. In one 

 corner of the drop is a removable covered copper box (B), about 16 in. 

 square by the same depth, into which the dung is scraped as soon as 

 voided with a wooden shovel and a broom. The length of the stall is 



Fin. 1. — Stall for digestion experiments with steers. 



adjusted so that when the manger is closed the animal stands with its 

 hind feet just on the edge of the drop. The manger is closed on the 

 side next to the animal except during feeding time, so that the animal 

 can not stand too far forward and let the dung fall upon the floor of 

 the stall instead of in the drop. 



To prevent the urine from mixing with the feces, the animal wears a 

 urine funnel made of heavy rubber covered with strong leather. The 

 tube of this funnel passes through a hole in the floor and empties into 

 a bottle below. 



Even with great care, small portions of dung adhere to the drop and 

 rear part of the stall and are not removed by the broom or wooden 

 shovel. In order to estimate the amount of this, the stall is washed 



