INCREASE 2ii 



The quantities of food corresponding to the amounts of 

 nutrients are much greater than were used in the American 

 experiments. The rate of increase to be expected is not 

 given ; but as the animals are " full grown " the whole what- 

 ever it may amount to must be regarded as true fattening 

 increase. It is only necessary, therefore, to deduct the due 

 allowance for maintenance in order to find how much is avail- 

 able for fattening in each case. Assuming that the whole of 

 the nutrients in the balance (beyond what is required for 

 maintenance) is to be stored up as body fat, this balance^would 

 correspond to a fattening increase of 2*2 Ibs., 3'! Ibs., and 

 6*3 Ibs. per day in the three cases respectively. If only 60 

 per cent, were stored up, it would correspond to i'32 Ibs., 

 i '86 Ibs., and 378 Ibs. of fattening increase per head per day in 

 the three cases respectively. The feeding standard in question 

 is, however, for the first stage only; smaller quantities are 

 recommended for the second and third stages. Still it is 

 evident that the last-mentioned quantity is excessive. 



General. In all experiments on fattening, it is found that 

 the rate of increase is more rapid in the earlier stages and 

 gradually diminishes as the animals approach the " finished " 

 condition. It may be supposed that for each individual there 

 is a stage beyond which it could not be fattened any more ; 

 and as this point is arrived at gradually, the return in the 

 shape of fattening increase for food consumed must gradually 

 become less and less. Each successive pound of fattening 

 increase costs more to produce than the preceding one. It 

 is not, therefore, profitable to continue the process of fattening 

 beyond a certain stage. 



In some parts of the country, oxen are kept strictly on 

 maintenance rations until they are fully grown, and the fatten- 

 ing process is not begun until this stage is achieved. In 



