FEEDING OF GROWING ANIMALS 287 



two investigations with calves of 5-6 months of age, 

 it was found in one case that only 42 % of the lime 

 of the food was utilised, and of the phosphoric 

 only 46% ; in the second case, 51-54% of the lime 

 and 56-65% of the phosphoric acid. The two 

 last mentioned numbers may be taken as the 

 maximum, for in a further series of experiments in 

 which precipitated phosphate of lime was added 

 to the food the animals did retain a little lime and 

 phosphoric acid in their bodies, but it should be 

 remarked that the food itself was deficient in these 

 two substances. 



From what has been said, it may be taken that 

 animals should have in their ordinary food about 

 2-3 times as much lime and phosphoric acid as they 

 store in their bodies. Milk, however, is utilised 

 in a higher degree, as has already been noticed. 



In the rearing of young stock the direction which 

 the animals will take later ought not to be over- 

 looked. If they are to be fattened, then, even 

 before their birth they are helped by giving the 

 mother a liberal diet, and afterwards they should 

 also be treated well in the matter of food. 



Male animals intended for breeding should also 

 get a more liberal diet, without being allowed to 

 grow too fat, than those animals intended for the 

 production of wool or meat or for draught purposes. 

 The first principle should be not to hinder the 

 development of the animals by a lack of food, for 



