262 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



nitrogen-free extract substances and crude fibre, 

 together with a starch equivalent of 14-5 lbs. 

 When less coarse fodder is given, the ration may 

 be decreased to a starch equivalent of 12 lbs. for 

 cattle, and still produce a daily increase of 2 lbs. 

 per 1000 lbs. of the weight at the commencement 

 of the fattening. 



There is a very large choice of feeding-stuffs 

 suitable for fattening ruminants, and in cases where 

 foods are equally palatable and suitable, the 

 digestibility and percentage of water which they 

 contain ought to be considered. Everybody knows 

 that with cereal straw, chaff and similar fodder, no 

 increase of weight worth mentioning can be ob- 

 tained. If these substances are included in large 

 quantities in the fattening ration there is not room 

 enough in the limited capacity of the animal for 

 the more easily digestible and profitable foods. 

 Where intensive fattening is being carried on these 

 less valuable food-stuffs must be limited, and under 

 some circumstances not more than 5-10 lbs. of the 

 coarse fodder per 1000 lbs. live weight need be 

 given to maintain the appetite of the animal. 

 Good meadow or clover hays, which otherwise give 

 an excellent product when the animal comes into 

 the butcher's hands, are seldom used as the chief 

 fodder, for their value in fattening is not sufficiently 

 high where large quantities are given. 



It is otherwise with the young plants from good 



