FATTENING OF GROWN ANIMALS 257 



siderable margin left in the quantity of digestible 

 protein which may be fed. If the animals at 

 the beginning of the fattening period are in moderate 

 condition, a commencement may be made with the 

 wide " nutritive " or " albuminoid ratio." 



It is different though when lean, worn-out ani- 

 mals are put aside to be fattened, and it is then 

 advisable to give a ration richer in protein, so that 

 the fibres of the flesh develop and are able to store 

 up large quantities of fat. For 2-4 weeks the 

 ration should be moderately rich in protein (i : 6), 

 but not too large, whilst afterwards the quantity 

 of food may be increased until the full fattening 

 ration is being given, the amount of protein being 

 slowly diminished. A large number of investiga- 

 tions have proved that with the very moderate 

 quantity of protein given above excellent results 

 can be obtained. 



With regard to the supply of fat in the food, it 

 must first of all be remembered that this is the 

 most concentrated form of nitrogen-free nutrients, 

 and that with cattle it yields 2-2 times as much in 

 body fat as do the carbohydrates. It is, then, 

 advisable where intensive fattening is being carried 

 out to increase the fat as much as possible. When 

 oils in quantities of about i Ib. are given per 

 1000 Ibs. body weight, the appetite and digestion 

 of ruminants suffer as a rule. Also when foods rich 

 in fat are fed, the same disturbances are some- 

 s 



