Influence of Feed on the Animal Body. 



91 



Here we are shown that while the steer getting the protein-rich 

 ration gained 962 pounds in 10 months, the one receiving the 

 protein-poor ration made a gain of 1,005 pounds, or 43 pounds 

 more than the one fed the ration which at first gave the best 

 returns. This result is the surprise of the investigation. 



121. Digestible matter for one pound of growth. In the follow- 

 ing table is presented the digestible matter required for one 

 pound of growth during different periods : 



Amount of digestible matter required to produce one pound of growth 

 with steers Maine Station. 



The above table shows that when the calves were building flesh 

 and bone, the protein-rich ration was much more effective than 

 the other. From the beginning to the end of 15 months 7 feeding, 

 5.11 pounds of digestible nutrients in the protein-rich ration 

 proved as effective as 6. 16 pounds of nutrients in the protein-poor 

 ration. 



In the second division of the table we learn that with the two 

 steers fed for 27 months, 7.73 pounds of the digestible nutrients 

 in the protein-rich ration were required during the whole period 

 for one pound of gain, while only 6.86 pounds of digestible nutri- 

 ents were required for one pound of gain with the protein-poor 

 ration; that is, while the protein -rich ration was more effective 

 during the growing stages, that containing less protein but more 

 carbohydrates proved the most efficient at the end of the 27 



