160 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



minerals (halisteresis ossium), which manifests itself in brittleness of 

 the bones (osteomalacia) and in softness of the bones (rachitis). That 

 the trouble is due to improper feed and not to other local conditions is 

 demonstrated by the fact or observation that animals in other regions, 

 when fed on hay from localities where the disease prevails, become af- 

 fected in the same manner. On the other hand, hay from regions habitu- 

 ally free from the trouble will cure affected animals in the afflicted locali- 

 ties. Hay from these afflicted regions is referred to as "sour hay." Such 

 hay, however, is not "sour" because, as was formerly assumed, it con- 

 tained unusual acids (humic acid), but because it is deficient in bases 

 (potash) and will not serve to neutralize the excessive amounts of acid 

 which are formed in the body when large quantities of hay are fed. The 

 acids of the body eliminate the small supply of potash and rob it of this 

 vitally important salt. 



While the excess alkali in good hay represents about 30 units (milli- 

 gram equivalent for 100 grams of dry matter), hay which causes licking 

 disease contains only from 5 to 10 units. Sometimes there is more chlorin 

 present than can be taken up by the alkalies. The trouble can easily be 

 avoided, however, by an abundant supply of feed that is rich in the 

 missing alkalies (potash and sodium), e. g., molasses, 6 to 10 pounds for 

 working oxen and fattening cattle, 3 to 4 pounds for milk cows, begin- 

 ning with small quantities and gradually increasing. 



Similar conditions prevaihng in moorland or marsh pasture regions, 

 may, in the opinion of the author, be remedied in the same way. 



Lack of iron or its salts in feeding stuffs is probably only an exceptional 

 occurrence, since the natural feeding stuffs usually contain an excess of 

 this element. Lack of iron in the organism (anemia) is probably much 

 more frequently due to other basic causes. This common ailment of 

 sheep is attempted to be overcome by the administration of various iron 

 preparations (sulphate of iron, daily 0.5 to 1.0 gm. for sheep, 3.0 to 5.0 

 gm. for cattle; blood meal, etc.). 



In the feeding of animals the requirement of salt or mineral matter 

 should be kept in mind in the selection of suitable feeding stuffs, rational 

 fertilization, and, where necessary, in the correction of deficiencies by 

 the addition of the salts found wanting. Care should be observed that 

 the various mineral constituents are present in the proper proportions. 

 The composition of milk may be used as a basis in this respect, because, 

 with milk as a food, animals not only thrive best but the excretion of 

 mineral matter is at a minimum. The mineral matter in cow's milk, 

 figured on the basis of one liter consists of potash 1.7 gm., sodium 0.4, 

 lime 1.7, magnesia 0.2, phosphoric acid 2.0, sulphuric acid 0.1 and chlorin 

 1.0 gm. These figures are, of course, more directly applicable to the re- 

 quirements of the growing animal. The mature animal requiring con- 

 siderably less potash and phosphoric acid, the proportion of these ele- 

 ments should be adjusted according to the character of work (muscular 

 work, milk production, breeding, etc.) performed. 



