FEEDS AND FEEDING 



II33 



on the total nitrogen or that of Stutzer, the writers also ascertained the 

 coefficients of digestibility according these tot wo methods. 

 Table II indicates the coefficients of digestibility. 



Table II. — Coefficients of digestibility of the foods tried. 



Substances 



Sheep 



Flour 



Ortcanic matter . . . 

 Crude protein .... 

 Pure protein . . . . 



I'at 



Crude cellulose . . . 

 Nitrogen-free extract 



% 



86.7 

 59-2 

 59-2 

 90.6 

 98.2 

 81.4 



78.1 

 60.6 



83.4 

 59.9 



60.2 j 59.7 

 74.7 ! 8'..T 

 91.6 i 94.9 

 69.6 ! 15.5 



Chips 



% 



75-7 

 26.3 

 26.3 



934 

 86.0 



74-3 



% 



74-7 

 60.5 

 60.5 

 32.3 

 77-7 

 83.8 



rs.a 



81.9 



79.1 



Chips 



% 



74-9 

 46.7 

 46.7 

 88.5 

 85.5 

 73.1 



% 



77.6 

 571 

 571 



84.4 

 82.9 



/o 



76.3 

 51.9 

 51.9 



88.S 

 85.0 

 78.0 



From these figures the following conclusions are drawn : 



i) The digestibility of the organic matter and its principal consti- 

 ttients, crude cellulose and nitrogen-free extract, is very- good, both in the 

 sheep and the pig. The fat was also well utilised, while the protein was 

 less thoroughly digested. 



2) The flour was digested better by the sheep than were the chips, 

 but the difference is not sufficient to justify grinding. It is consequently 

 more economical to use chips for sheep. 



3) The pigs ittilised the chips as fully as did the sheep. 



4) There is onlj' a slight difference in value between the reddish food 

 and the greyish food. 



5) Both the flour and the chips were readily eaten by the animals ; 

 they never caused any digestive troubles. 



6) Crude cellulose particularly is highly digestible by the two species 

 of animals. From this it may be concluded that it is not in a fibrous condition 

 in the fruit, as Fingerling has proved that fibre is not well utilised by pigs. 

 This fact must be taken into account in forming an estimate of this food. 



7) The food from the fruit of Phytclcphas pro\-ides a good source 

 of digestible carboh3'drates. Nevertheless they must be regarded as adtil- 

 terants when mixed with other concentrates (earth-nut meal, linseed meal, 

 etc.). If sold pure and at a low price, the farmer may buy them. 



II. — Hay meal. — Ordinarj^ hay was finely ground and then admini- 

 tered to 2 sheep and 2 pigs in order to determine its coefficient of digesti- 

 bility. Of the 2 sheep, one first received 1000 gr. of chopped hay, then 700 

 gr. of ha\' were replaced by the same quantity of hay meal ; the other re- 



