NUTRITION 



107 



observed when ruminants are compared with non-ruminants. 

 Very little difference has been observed as between cattle and 

 sheep. When pigs and horses are compared, the differences 

 are more marked, but these two animals are not largely fed on 

 the same kinds of food. 



So far as the more concentrated and readily digestible foods 

 are concerned, except in regard to fats, the differences between 

 ruminants and non-ruminants are so small that they may be 

 ignored in practice; but in the case of the coarser fodders, 

 the differences are more considerable and must be taken into 

 account. This may be attributed largely to the influence of 

 the hard, fibrous tissues in the latter. Cattle and sheep, by 

 virtue of their more complex and elaborate digestive apparatus, 

 are better adapted than horses to deal with this kind of 

 material, and they digest a larger proportion of the crude 

 fibre. It is probably also on this account that a much larger 

 percentage of the fat in coarse foods is digested by sheep and 

 cattle than by horses. The latter have naturally a smaller 

 capacity for the digestion of fat, and the difference is accentuated 

 when that ingredient is protected by much fibrous tissue. 

 Ruminants also digest a somewhat larger proportion of the 

 soluble carbohydrates (starch, etc.), but very little difference 

 has been observed in regard to protein. 



These facts may be illustrated by comparing the digestibility 

 coefficients of the several ingredients of the food for horses and 

 cattle. 



DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENTS. 



Of course no two animals of the same kind give absolutely 

 identical results; but the differences between individuals, 

 provided they are normal and healthy, are small. Apart from 



