DIGESTION AND NUTRITION 337 



the feeding of farm animals, however, the practical results 

 which have been obtained show that this is an important 

 factor. 



461. Amount of Food Consumed. In the case of 

 human digestion experiments, results have shown that a 

 large amount of food is not as completely digested as 

 a smaller amount. With farm animals, the experiments 

 have not been so decisive. In some cases, large rations 

 have been digested as completely as smaller ones. This 

 is undoubtedly due to individual differences of animals. 

 Excessive amounts of foods, however, have a tendency 

 to interfere with normal digestion and the results are not 

 as satisfactory as when medium rations are fed. 



462. Palatability. In order to have the best results, 

 the food should be relished by the animals. Palatability 

 exerts a favorable influence upon digestibility and also 

 upon the returns in animal products. Overripe and 

 fibrous fodders are generally lacking in palatability be- 

 cause in the later stages of growth, there is a smaller 

 amount of the essential oils and other products that im- 

 part palatability. The mechanical condition and the 

 palatability of coarse fodders are closely associated, and 

 the highest degree of digestibility of grains and fodders 

 generally accompanies the best mechanical condition. 



463. Individuality. When a number of animals are 

 fed the same ration, individual differences are observed. 

 Some animals are capable of digesting all foods more 

 completely than are others, and some are capable of 

 digesting one food more completely than another food. 



