1G2 The Starch Equivalent Theory 



Elsewhere^ the author has proposed that the feedinji; standards 

 should be superseded by furniulae. These should be in terms of "total 

 digestible nutrients" with given alhuniindiil ratios foi maintenance, 

 growth, work, fattening and milk produ'tion. Tiiis would afford a 

 sini])le and satisfactory solution of dilliculties hitherto encountered, 

 and it possesses many collateral advantages. Perhaps not the least 

 of tliese is the fact that attempts to evolve such formulae would 

 elTectually ex))ose our ignorance of many ])oints at present concealed 

 by the feeding standards and further obscured by the complexities 

 of tlie starch ecjuivalent system. In the present state of our kiunvledge 

 indeed such fornmlae could be little more than hypotheses but they 

 would serve to give point and direction to research. 



Wood and Yule's paper shows that some progress has already been 

 made in this direction and it encourages the hope that in the near 

 future the rate of advance may be greatly accelerated. 



' Chemistry of Cattle Feeding and Dairying (lyongmans). 



{Received January ],s/, 1915.) 



