LEGUMINOS^ IN THE FEEDING OF LIVE STOCK 277 



The coefficients of digestibility for our local fodders have 

 not been established experimentally as we could have wished, 

 owing to our not having the necessary organization for such 

 researches. They have been taken from American co- 

 efficients for fodders of the same sort, such as the cowpea, 

 Bengal bean, &c. 



COEFFICIKNTS OF DIGESTIBILITY. 



Greeii Fodder. 



Cellulose supplementary to the carbohydrates 

 Fat ... 

 Nitrogenous matter 



Hay. 



Cellulose 



Non-nitrogenous matter ... 

 F'at ... 

 Nitrogenous matter 



The reader, when he sees that the coefficients of digesti- 

 bility of the nutritive principles in green fodders and hay 

 are not identical, will gather that the former are the more 

 digestible. The proof of this is that an animal, when given 

 a choice between green cowpeas or cowpeas in the state 

 of hav, will always prefer the former. 



Although we have said that cellulose is partially digesti- 

 ble, we do not wish to imply that its presence in more or 

 less large quantities has no influence on the digestibility of 

 the other nutritive principles. It is certain that the stomach 

 is severely taxed in order to absorb it, and its value as a 

 food is thereby diminished. 



Kellner's method in no way diminishes the value of 

 the formula ^•J'l-. ' which shows the relationship which 



N.N.M. ' ^ 



should exist between the two categories of nutritive principles 

 where the physiological requirements of animals are con- 

 cerned, i.e., in furnishing muscular energy, fat, or milk; 



■ Nitrogenous majtei^ ^^^ nutritive ratio). 

 Non-nitrogenous matter 



