E. T. Halnan 167 



fed. As a result of these experiments Henneberg and Stohmann 

 came to the conclusion that the requirements of adult oxen of 1000 lbs. 

 live weight were satisfied with a ration containing -.57 lb. digestible 

 protein and 7-4 lbs. digestible N-free extract, i.e. an available energy 

 intake of about 13,830 cals. per day. It should be remembered that 

 these experiments lasted for short periods only, and no respiration 

 calorimetry control was used to check the accuracy of the figures 

 obtained by merely weighing the animals. Moreover, in these experi- 

 ments, no estimation of the fat of the foods was determined except 

 in the case of the rape cake. The figures given, therefore, must be 

 accepted with a certain amount of reserve. 



Henneberg^ records two instances, {a) at Weende, and {h) elsewhere, 

 of full-grown oxen fed throughout the winter months under conditions 

 of ordinary agricvdtural practice upon the following diets: 



In ll)s. per 1(100 lbs. live weight 



(") (h) 



12-9 .straw 16-3 barley straw 



7'1 sainfoin hay 0-4 aftermath 



0-4 bean meal 2-0 clover hay 



0-4 rajie cake , 1-3 pea straw 



2'9 mixed barley and oat meal 



containing containmg 



1 lb. digestible protein •^ lb. digestible protein 



7-8 lbs. nitrogen-free extract 8-8 lbs. nitrogen-free extract 



The animals fed on ration («) increased 70 to 90 lbs. apiece; those 

 on ration (h) performed light work without losing condition. That 

 is to say, a diet containing -7 lb. digestible protein and 8-8 nitrogen- 

 free extract per 1000 lbs. live weight is more than sufficient to maintain 

 the animal, and Henneberg's and Stohmann's estimate, and in con- 

 sequence Wolff's estimate, are considerably in excess of the actual 

 maintenance requirements of o.xen. Wolffs, as a result of critical 

 examination of the Weende experiments, comes to the conclusion 

 that as these experiments were conducted at a temperature of 62° 

 to 69° F. the allowance made by Henneberg and Stohmann is rather 

 too small, and he suggests therefore replacing it by a ration containing 

 •7 lb. digestible protein and 8-4 lbs. digestible nitrogen-free extract 

 per 1000 lbs. live weight. This is the figure given by Wolff in the 

 appendix and quoted by Murray in support of his arguments. 



• Henneberg and Stohmann, Beiirdgc znr Beqrinuluiig einer rnlionelhn Fiilleniiig der 

 Wiederkauer. 



2 Wolff, Farm Foods, pp. 229 and 350. 

 Journ. of Agric. Sci. vn 12 



