46 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BKITAIN. 



as the exact proportions of natural and artificial food most 

 suitable at different ages and stages of feeding, are still matters 

 only of opinion, but there are great difficulties in the way of 

 demonstration. The comparison between living subjects is 

 always influenced by the variation that exists in constitution, 

 temperament, and feeding quality ; and it is a nice point, and 

 opens a large field for error, to allow for these* disturbing 

 causes. It would be important to ascertain exactly what pro- 

 portions of natural and artificial food prove most economical at 

 different ages and stages of feeding. We are quite certain that 

 money is often lost from over-feeding with rich nitrogenous 

 foods, especially in the early stages of the process. The 

 proportion which the system can take in and convert into flesh 

 is so small, that much the larger part goes into the manure ; 

 and, remembering the vast complicated stomach of the ox, it is 

 clear that a bulky food is required which contains a consider- 

 able portion of indigestible fibre. The proportion between the 

 stomach and intestines affords an indication as to the nature of 

 the food required by different animals. Thus for each 1001b. 

 live weight the ox has ll^lb. of stomach, and only 2^1b. of intes- 

 tines ; the sheep has much less stomach and more intestines, 

 and altogether a smaller percentage of digestive apparatus, 

 indicating the necessity for more concentrated food ; whilst the 

 pig has only 1 Jib. of stomach and 61b. of intestines to each 1001b. 

 live weight, demonstrating that concentrated and generous food 

 is required. These are important points, indicating the kind of 

 food most suitable to each. Thus bullocks have been fattened 

 entirely on good straw and oil-cake. Such a food would not 

 fatten sheep, as their digestive apparatus needs a considerable 

 proportion of starchy food ; whilst pigs do best when fed entirely 

 on meal. In the absence of direct experiments on the subject, 

 we venture to suggest a dietary suitable for animals growing 

 and feeding at the same time, and which would be applicable to 

 the animal from the period of weaning until death, the quantity 

 to be given depending on age. It is well to remember that 

 there is virtue in a mixture of different substances, even though 

 we might supply the same constituents in a simple form. 

 Variety suits the digestion : linseed cake, or cotton cake, 

 according to market, 21b. ; barley, or wheat meal, or palm nut 



