Miscellaneous Studies. 103 



Growth on scanty rations is not due directly to the fat reabsorbed 

 from the body. The animal burns its stored fat to support the 

 body, and the protein in its food is used for building body tissue. 

 The supply of mineral matter in the maintenance ration used in 

 these studies was probably sufficient to provide an excess for 

 growth. The steers also developed depraved appetites in a short 

 time after being placed on scanty rations and ate considerable 

 earth, possibly making use of some of its mineral matter. 



Waters concludes that the young animal may advance to nor- 

 mal size by any or all of the following ways : 



1. By growing steadily from birth to maturity. 



2. By storing fat in a period of abundant food supply to assist 

 in tiding over a limited period of sparse food supply without seri- 

 ous interruption of growth. 



3. By prolonging the growth period. 



4. By an increase in the rate of growth during a period of lib- 

 eral feeding following a period of low nourishment and low gain. 



5. By conserving the cost. Apparently the animal when kept 

 for a long period on scanty food gets on a more economical basis 

 than when more liberally fed. A ration which is at first insufficient 

 to maintain the animal may be capable later of keeping the animal 

 at a constant body weight, and still later of causing gain. 



