271 



Nov. 4, 1918 Net Energy Values of Alfalfa Hay and Starch 



Four samples of the finely cut alfalfa hay and four of the starch were 

 taken as the rations were being weighed out. The hay samples were 

 analyzed separately, while the starch samples were united to form a 

 single composite. The analytical results and the periods covered by each 

 sample are shown in Table II. 



DIGESTIBILITY 



The digestibility of the total ration was determined in the usual manner. 

 The results are recorded in full in Table i of the Appendix and are sum- 

 marized in Table III. The weighted means are computed from the totals 

 of each ingredient eaten and excreted respectively in all the periods 

 averaged. The digestibility of the starch is computed on the assumption 

 that the hay fed with it had the digestibility shown by the mean of 

 periods 5, 6 and 7. Large negative coefficients for protein and crude 

 fiber result from this computation. The results for the other ingredients 

 are as shown in the table, the periods being, for convenience of reference 

 grouped by the nature of the ration and arranged in each group in the 

 order of magnitude of the rations. 



Table III. — Summary of percentage digestibility 



The negative coefficients obtained for the protein and crude fiber of the 

 starch by the foregoing method of computation are, of course, sinply an 

 expression of the well-known fact that the addition of starch to a ration 



