6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 



The digestibility of the protein of the hays was determined 

 ^y pepsin in vitro ; the digestibility of the carbohydrates was 

 arrived at according to Henneberg's rule* in preference to 

 accepting the digestibihty coefficients found for the varieties 

 elsewhere. For the meals the digestibiUties and starch equiva- 

 lents were as given by Kellner. The starch equivalents of the 

 prickly pear and haj's were obtained from the starch values 

 by deduction of -29 per cent, for each one per cent, of fibre (5). 



The Strict Maintenance Requirement of Prickly Pear 



Fed Steers. 



The rations in the maintenance trials were generally suffi- 

 cient for the production of small gams. The nutrients of the 

 rations utihsed for preservation of body weight can be deduced 

 from the total nutrients by deduction of 3 lb. starch equivalent 

 and -3 lb. protein for each one pound gained, these amounts 

 being shown in feeding trials with oxen to be adequate for that 

 amount of fattening increase (6). 3y this method the require- 

 ment of individual steers for strict maintenance in the first 

 trials is found to range from 5-85 to 7-34 lb. starch equivalent, 

 and from -44 to -74 lb. digestible protein daily. In the second 

 trial the range was 5-50 to 7-43 lb. starch equivalent, and*-43 

 to -69 lb. digestible protein. Per 1,000 lb. hve weight the 

 average daily maintenance requirement of steers shown in the 

 first trials is 6-80 lb. starch equivalent and -62 lb. digest- 

 ible protein ; in the second trials G-39 starch equivalent and -56 

 lb. digestible protein. The figures agree closely with the main- 

 tenance requirement for oxen of other fodders shown by various 

 experiments — viz., 60 lb. starch equivalent and Gib. digestible 

 protein (5). The inference is that pricJcly pear nutrients are well 

 tLsed in the maintenance of steers and for production of body 

 weight increase. 



The Appetite of Steers for Prickly Pear. 



A study of the factors influencing the amounts of prickly 

 pear eaten by steers was made partly during the maintenance 

 trials and partly subsequent to them. The conclusions bearing 

 upon the appetite of steers for prickly pear are dealt with in the 

 following paragraphs : — 



* See Crowthei and Ruston. J. Agric. Sci., vol. iv, 1914, p. 310. 



