ANIMAL PEODUCTION. 569 



It is said that the following quantities of the yeast per 1,000 lbs. live weight 

 may safely be fed : Horses, 4 lbs. ; cows, 10 lbs. ; sheep, 5 lbs. ; and pigs, 10 lbs. 



The action of taka-diastase on the digestive power of the healthy animal, 

 S. Sawamura (Jour. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Tokyo, 5 (1915), No. 3, pp. 271-281). — 

 From feeing trials with a sheep it is concluded that the addition of 0.5 gm. of 

 taka-diastase to a basal ration of hay, bran, and starch did not increase the 

 digestibility of the starch, but that of crude fiber was slightly augmented. The 

 quantity of digestible protein was practically the same as where the basal ra- 

 tion alone was fed, from which it is concluded that the addition of talia-dias- 

 tase did not increase the secretion of digestive enzymo in the animal body. 



In a second trial with two sheep in which 1 gm. of talia-diastase was added 

 to the basal ration, the digestibility of the starch was increased, as was also 

 that of the crude fiber and protein. The addition of the talia-diastase appar- 

 ently s'.ightl}' diminished the secretion of the digestive enzyms. 



The results of these experiments indicate that the addition of a very small 

 dose of a digestive enzym to the feed of a healthy animal has no effect on the 

 digestion, but that when taka-diastase is given in a quantity corresponding to 

 the -^o; ? Qoo part of the live weight the digestion of starch is somewhat augmented 

 by it, and that of protein is also increased. However, as the increase of the 

 digestibility of starch is very small, it is not deemed economical to use any 

 digestive enzym in the feeding of domestic animals. 



A new method (Kjellestrom) for the determination of the live weight of 

 cattle, E. Mascheroni (Indus. Latt. e Zootec, 13 (1915), No. 7, pp. 100-102, fig. 

 1). — ^A method for the determination of the live weight of cattle is described, 

 certain measurements of length and heart girth being used. 



The cost of maintenance of cattle as influenced by condition, previous 

 plane of nutrition, age, season of the year, length of time on maintenance, 

 type, and size of animal, P. F. Trowbridge, C. R. Moulton, and L. D. Haigh 

 (Missouri Sta. Research Bui. 18 (1915), pp. 5-62, figs. 17). — These studies were 

 made with 26 steers. A portion of the steers were selected as calves, full fed 

 for four months, and assigned to lots. Lot 1 was full fed and crowded, lot 2 

 was fed for maximum growth without laying on appreciable fat, and lot 3 was 

 fed for retarded growth, about i lb. grain daily when yearlings. Collectively 

 the three lots were known as the " use of food " group. Another portion of the 

 steers belonged to a group known as the " regular-maintenance " group. A 

 third group was called the " special-maintenance " group. They were full fed 

 until 11 months old, when they were divided into three lots, one lot being held 

 at maintenance, a second lot being allowed to gain i lb. per day, and a third lot 

 losing i lb. per day. 



Three other steers were full fed for several months. Then followed 30 days 

 of submaintenance or loss of weight, and then maintenance for 60 days. One 

 of these steers was then full fed for four months and nine days, put on main- 

 tenance for 240 days, again full fed for five months, and finally put on main- 

 tenance for 110 days. This trial ended one month before slaughtering. A 

 second steer, after the above treatment, for three months was fed a main- 

 tenance ration plus one-half the productive feed above maintenance fed to the 

 first steer, was then put on maintenance for 290 days, again fed as above for 

 five months, and finally put on maintenance for 110 days. This trial ended 

 about five months before slaughtering. The third steer, after the same pre- 

 liminary treatment accorded the two preceding steers, was for three months 

 and nine days fed a maintenance ration plus one-fourth of the productive feed 

 above maintenance fed the first steer. Then followed 280 days of maintenance, 

 a second feeding period of five months, and a final maintenance period of 110 

 days, which ended three months before slaughtering. 

 7700°— No. 6—15 6 



