6 N. H. Age. Expeeiment Station [Bulletin 256 



The results so far obtained suggest a compensating arrangement be- 

 tween these two methods of eliminating water from the body from day 

 to day. Normally the water passed as urine, on a uniform feed level 

 and under fairly uniform temperature conditions remains fairly uni- 

 form, but the insensible loss of water under like conditions may vary 

 as much as 12 or even more pounds. However, when there occurs a 

 sudden drop in temperature the insensible drops likewise and more ex- 

 cess water is eliminated as urine. 



A practical object of this study is to determine the possible inhibiting 

 effect of changes in water loss by insensible perspiration on milk yield 

 and its partial control by blanketing. (Purnell Fund) 



Higher Energy Value Found for Alfalfa 



Sttidies on the net energy value of various rations and on individual 

 feeds were also made in the nutrition laboratory by means of measur- 

 ing the metabolism or energy reaction of the animal to a given amount 

 of food consumed. The results, for timothy hay and linseed oil meal, 

 compare very well with results obtained from a seven-months' feeding 

 experiment computed on basis of Armsby's net values, and conducted 

 by E. B. Meigs, Bureau of Dairying, United States Department of 

 Agriculture. They suggest, therefore, that Armsby's net energy values 

 for these two staple food products — timothy hay 43.0 therms, and lin- 

 seed oil meal 89.9 therms — are correct, particularly since they were 

 obtained by three different methods of technique. 



With alfalfa hay on the other hand a net energy value of 49.6 therms 

 per 100 pounds hay was obtained which is materially higher than the 

 amount (34.2 therms) given by Armsby but again closely corresponds 

 to the results obtained by Meigs from feeding a maintenance ration 

 of alfalfa over a period of seven months. Several similar measurements 

 of net energy value of corn meal were also made during the year but 

 these will be repeated in order to check the results. {Purnell Fund) 



Metabolism Studies with Sheep 



Sheep need more food for mere existence than has heretofore been 

 supposed, according to experiments conducted in respiration chambers 

 by E. G. Ritzman in cooperation with F. G. Benedict, of the Nutrition 

 Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution. Results of over 200 separate 

 tests indicate that an adult sheep requires from 28 to 35 calories per 

 kilogram of weight each day to maintain its bodily requirements. In 

 lambs the energy draft runs much higher still, amounting to about 100 

 calories at two weeks of age as compared to 74 for calves. 



The work was reported in Technical Bulletin 41 and at much greater 

 length by Wissenschaftliches Archiv Fur Landwirtschaft, Abt. B., Tier- 

 ernahrung und Tierzucht, Berlin, Germany. 



■ Sheep reach maturity at a much earlier age than the larger domestic 

 animals such as horses and cattle, and they make a much greater pro- 

 portion of their total growth during the suckling stage. Hence the 

 metabolism is apparently high in proportion with the faster growth 

 rate. By the end of the fourth month of life their energy requirements 

 reach a level below which there is only a relatively small further de- 

 crease. (Adams Fund) 



