ANTMAL PRODUCTION". 665 



"The second growth crop was superior lo any (tf the samples, as it iimst 

 nearly approximated a standard i-ation for fattening stocli." 



Feeding- for meat production, H. P. Armsby (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., liur. Aniiit. 

 Indus, liiil. ins, pii. s:i, fill. 1). — Tbis is a general discussion of principles under- 

 lyiii.^ fei'tliiiji fur meat production. Recent investigations on the laws of growth 

 and the i)rocess of fattening are reviewed, with special reference to the choice 

 of animals for meat production, feed reipiirements, and practical management. 



Two physiological processes are involved in connnercial meat jiroduction, 

 namely, growth and fattening. Growth is largely synonymous with increase of 

 protein tissue, and the rapidly growing cells demand a liberal supply of protein. 

 The average rate of growth diminishes from birth onwa^-d. Fattening is the 

 accumulation of adipose tissue with its prime object the impi'ovement in the 

 quality of the lean meat. 



"The amount of protein gained is largely dependent upon the age and to a 

 less degree upon the individuality of the 'animal, although probably affected to 

 some extent by the supply of feed protein. The fat formation, on the other 

 hand, is primarily dei^endent, in a broad way at least, upon the total feed 

 supply. Accordingly, we should anticipate that the composition of the increase 

 would vary with the age of the animal. 



"A deficient protein supply may, of course, limit growth for lack of material, 

 while the same appears to be true of the ash supi)ly. On the other hand, while 

 there are some indications that an abundant protein supi)ly may stimulate 

 b:!ightly the process of growth and lead to its early conii)letion, the effect seems 

 to be at best slight, and it remains true that the production of protein tissue 

 is substantially a function of the animal and not of the food, and that improve- 

 ment in this respect is a problem for the breeder rather than for the feeder. 



" Fattening, on the contrary, is a process which in a given animal at least 

 is largely under the control of the feeder. . . . Fattening may take place 

 at any age, although the greater demand for material for growth in the young 

 animal tends tQ reduce the proportion of the food available for fattening." 



It is believed that the mininuim lU'otein supply can not be formulated with 

 exactness, yet " there nmst be a sufficiency to replace the amounts katabolized 

 hi the vital processes and to supply material for new growth. The animal 

 must also receive an ampunt of potential energy in an available form sufficient 

 to maintain the normal activities of the body and to leave a surplus for storage 

 hi the form of flesh and fat." It is pointed out that many animals have been 

 fattened on Indian corn rations, with a i-atio of 1 : 10, but that possibly cheaper 

 meat might have been produced had more protein been suiiplied, although satis- 

 factory results have been reached on rations containing scarcely half the 

 Itrotein called for by the Wolff standard. With any given type of animal the 

 age at which it will reach marketable form and size is fixetl by its individuality. 



The author does not attempt to formulate numerically the total feed reipiire- 

 nients of growing animals, but " is inclined to question whether such standards, 

 however accurate they may be made and however great their statistical value, 

 can ever play any large part in practical feeding oi)erations." In growing animals 

 an Important element is considered to be the fact that moderate exercise tends 

 to stimulate the growth of the muscular system. 



The relation of steer feeding- to farm economics, F. C. Qi'i.ki:au (Tcnncuscc 

 Sta. Hill. 7!l, jtii. 3-.il), jujs. 1>, charts .i). — This bulletin contains a reitort of 

 steer- feeding experiments with corn, soy beans, and cowpeas. In 11)00-7 an 

 acre of corn lasted 4 steers for 54 days and producetl a gain of 12!) lbs. The 

 soy-bean acre lasted a similar lot of steers .SO days and produced a gain of 40t» 

 lbs., and the cowpea acre lasted .54 days, producing a gain of 2Si!) lbs. In I'.M)" S 

 the gains for corresponding lots of steers wen> for the corn lot 203 lbs., the soy 

 bean lot .'(-11 lbs., and the cowpea lot :!27 lbs. 



