FEEDING OF WORKING ANIMALS 273 



(i) The feeding of draught oxen. 



It has already been seen (p. 109) that men, dogs, 

 and horses are able to convert, in round numbers, 

 a third of the utilisable energy of their food into 

 work. There is not much likelihood of error if 

 the same proportion is assumed to take place with 

 the ox. If the daily work of a draught ox is known, 

 it is not difficult to calculate how much digestible 

 protein matter and starch equivalent are required for 

 this amount of work. From previous considera- 

 tions (p. no) it may be taken that i g. starch value 

 is able to perform 533 mkg. work, so that if 2,400,000 

 mkg., which is considered an average amount of 

 work for 1000 kg. live weight, be taken the starch 

 equivalent would have to be 4-50 kg. To this 

 must be added 5-20 kg. starch equivalent for the 

 maintenance of the animal (p. 245). 



The ration of oxen performing medium work must 

 therefore contain a starch equivalent per 1000 Ibs. 

 live weight of 97 Ibs. and 1-4 Ibs. digestible protein, 

 the latter under ordinary circumstances sufficing for 

 the complete digestion of the food. If food-stuffs 

 rich in protein have to be used, then double the 

 quantity of protein can be given without any 

 danger. In Table III of the Appendix will be 

 found further details relative to the rations for 

 different kinds of work. With regard to the sort of 

 food to be given, it must first of all be remembered 



