2T2 THE CHEMISTRY OF CATTLE FEEDING 



other districts the custom is to feed the calves more liberally 

 from the time they are weaned, so as to fatten them gradually 

 all the time they are growing. There may be practical reasons 

 which render one or other of these courses the more expedient 

 in particular cases ; but from a purely theoretical standpoint, 

 the advantage, as regards pecuniary economy, rests with the 

 former. A fat animal gives out more heat than a lean one, 

 and, therefore, requires more food to maintain it in that con- 

 dition. If the rations of a fat beast were reduced to what is 

 required for simple maintenance in the store condition, it 

 would go back, i.e. it would gradually lose weight' and become 

 thin again. 



The fact that a young animal puts on weight more rapidly 

 than an adult on which the whole argument seems to be 

 based is entirely beside the question. The extra weight 

 which a young animal puts on is due to growth, not fattening, 

 and there is nothing to show that more food is required to 

 produce a pound of true fattening increase in adults than in 



young animals. 



The case of fattening lambs, calves, or other growing 



animals, may be investigated in the manner described above 



for pigs. 



