I/O 4 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



of the nitrogen of the food is used for repair purposes 

 and subsequently voided in the manure, while with 

 young animals more of the nitrogen is retained for the 



construction of new musculaj: tissue. 



t 



When an animal is neither gaining nor losing in flesh, 

 and is not producing milk, an equilibrium is established 

 between the nitrogen in the food supply and the nitro- 

 gen in the manure, and practically all of the nitrogen 

 of the food is returned in the manure. 57 



188. Cow Manure. A milch cow when fed a bal- 

 anced ration will make from 60 to 70 pounds of solid 

 and liquid manure a day, of which 20 to 30 pounds are 

 liquid. The solid excrement contains about 6 pounds 

 of dry matter. When a cow is fed clover hay, corn 

 fodder, and grain, about half of the nitrogen of the food 

 is in the urine, about one fourth in the milk, and the re- 

 mainder in the solid excrement. Hence, if the solid 

 excrement only is collected, but a quarter of the nitro- 

 gen of the food is recovered ; while if both solids and 

 liquids are utilized, three quarters of the nitrogen is 

 secured. Cow manure is extremely variable in compo- 

 sition and is the most bulky of any manure produced by 

 domestic animals. A well-fed cow will produce about 

 80 pounds of manure per day, including absorbents. 



189. Horse Manure. Horse manure contains less 

 water than cow manure, and is of a more fibrous na- 

 ture, doubtless due to the horse possessing less power 



