668 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



basal ration confiruiod these results, the nitrogen output in the urine and feces 

 being greater on the basal ration alone than when from 10 to 30 gm. of NaCl 

 was fed with the ration. 



The principles and practice of judging live-stock, C. W. Gay (New York: 

 The Mucmillun Co., IDlJf, pp. XV]Il-\-Jil3, fifjs. 159). — This l>ook, which is one 

 of the Rural Text-book Sei'ies, gives practical instruction in methods of judging 

 live stock. 



Stock breeding in Belgium, J. 1j. Frateur (Vie Agr. ct Ruralc, 3 (lOlJf), 

 No. 2-'i, pp. 666-612, figs. 2). — This includes data on the importation and exporta- 

 tion of horses, cattle, sheep, and other classes of farm stock in Belgium, and 

 an account of the status of live stock breeding in that country. 



The cattle of Demonte, E. Mascheroni (Indus. Latt. c Zootec., 12 (Wllf), 

 No. 19, pp. 292-295, figs. 5). — ^An account of the origin, breed characteristics, 

 and utility value of the breed of cattle indigenous to Demonte, Italy. 



Cattle feeding on the plantation and farm, W. H. Dalrymple (Louisiana 

 Stas. Bui. 151 (1915), pp. 3-13, fig. 1). — This bulletin is a general discussion 

 of the opportunities for successful cattle feeding in Louisiana, especially on the 

 sugar plantation where molasses and cane-top silage may be used to advantage. 

 The expei-ience of one feeder is cited in which 49 lbs. of com silage, 6 lbs. 

 of blackstrap molasses, and 5 lbs. of cotton-soed meal per head i>er day were 

 fed 111 days, a net profit of $0.52 per head being realized. 



Digestion and metabolism of a steer when placed on a continuous ration of 

 corn silage, P. Y. Ewing and C. A. Wells (Georgia Sta. Bui. 109 (1914), PP- 

 145-15S, figs. 3). — In a digestion experiment with a 14-month-old Shorthorn 

 steer in which eight 10-day trials, with periods of about seven days intervening, 

 were made, and in which he was fed all the silage he would eat twice daily, 

 this being regarded as about a maintenance ration, average digestion coef- . 

 flcients were obtained of 61.3 per cent for dry mutter, 27 for nitrogen. 51 for 

 fat, 62.4 for nitrogen-free extract, 60 for fiber, and 42.2 for ash. It was demon- 

 strated that " when an animal is placed on a low plane of nutrition it does not 

 more completely digest the feed given it as time goes on. The tendency seems 

 to be slightly in the opposite direction. Not only is digestion quite uniform in 

 its intensity in different individuals of the same species, but with the same 

 animal it remains fairly constant when taken over a rather long period of time. 



" The digestibility of the feed is somewhat retarded in an animal after hav- 

 ing been on a low plane of nutrition for a time, which is probably the result of a 

 general retardation of the digestive functions. The maintenance ration of a 

 steer does not decrease as time goes on through the steer's ability to take more 

 of the nutrients from the feed given him, but by virtue of his physiological 

 behavior the steer puts the digested nutrients supplied him to a more economical 

 use. 



" Silage alone is an unsatisfactory feed because of its deficiency in nitrogen, 

 and a steer placed on this ration is forced to draw on his stored nitrogen to 

 meet the demands of the body for nitrogen. While the animal was eating all 

 the silage its appetite would permit, there was every indication that it could 

 have digested more silage if it could have consumed it. The appetite seems to 

 act in some way as a check on the efficiency of the animal. 



" Water consumption seems to be very greatly influenced by the moisture 

 content of the feedstuff, and it is possible for the water of a succulent feed, 

 such as silage, to supply all the water required by a steer for at least a num- 

 ber of days. The disposition of an animal is materially affected by being placed 

 on a low plane of nutrition, as indicated by restlessness, nervousness, inclina- 

 tion toward viciousness, a very abnormal appetite, constant grinding of the 



