

FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 267 



As pointed out in our earlier papers, in reading the figures 

 allowauce has obviously to be made, both for those of the 

 non-nitrogenous constituents which would probably become 

 at once effete, and also for the different respiratory and fat- 

 forming capacities of the portions which are digestible. Thus, 

 comparing series with series, the amounts are higher in Series 

 II. where the ad libitum food was clover-chaff containing a 

 large amount of indigestible fibre, than in either of the other 

 series where it consisted of Swedish turnips or mangel-wurzel. 

 Then, the quantity consumed was higher in the third pen of 

 Series I., with clover-chaff, than in the other pens of the same 

 series ; and it was lower in pen 1 of Series I. with linseed- 

 cake containing much oil, and it was again lower in pens 1 

 and 2 of Series II., also with much fatty matter in the food, 

 than in the other pens of the same series with cereal grain. 



Indeed, when we bear in mind the various circumstances 

 which must tend to modify the indications of the actual 

 figures, it will be admitted that the coincidences in the 

 amounts of available respiratory and fat- forming constitu- 

 ents consumed by a given weight of animal within a given 

 time, are much more striking and conclusive than, consider- 

 ing the views prevalent on the subject at the time, could have 

 been anticipated. 



With this general uniformity in the amounts of the non- 

 nitrogenous substance consumed by a given live - weight 

 within a given time, the amounts of the nitrogenous con- 

 stituents so consumed are, on the other hand, seen to vary 

 under the same circumstances in the proportion of from one 

 to two, or three, or more. 



Let us now refer to the last three columns of Table 67, 

 which show the amounts of the respective constituents con- 

 sumed to produce 100 lb. increase in live-weight. In consider- 

 ing these results we must, as when discussing those relating 

 to the consumption by a given live-weight within a given 

 time, read the indications of the actual figures as modified by 

 the obviously different capacities for the purposes of the ani- 

 mal economy, of the substances the amounts of which they 

 are assumed to represent. It must also be borne in mind, 

 that the proportion of real dry substance in the increase of 

 the animal will vary to some extent, according to the char- 

 acter of the food. For example, it will be rather the less, the Food de- 

 more succulent the food, and the greater, the greater the pro- ^iJj^ 

 portion of fat in the increase. Again, as in the case of the ance and 

 results showing the consumption for a given live- weight of the 1 ^Tl *" 

 fattening animal within a given time, the figures represented 

 the demand — not only for respiration, and for maintenance 

 in other respects, but also that for increase in live-weight, so 



