FATTENING OF GROWN ANIMALS 269 



experiments in which the respiration chamber was 

 used. Pigs of 14-18 months when fed on rice, 

 which is very deficient in protein (albuminoid ratio 

 1 : 137), gained daily 48-0 g. flesh per head, and when 

 they were given meat meal and whey, which to- 

 gether had an albuminoid ratio of 1:2-4, they only 

 gained 45-1 g. The supply of protein in the food 

 can also here be limited to that sufficient to ensure 

 digestion of the food and to furnish the small 

 increase of flesh which takes place during fattening. 

 Diminution in the way in which the food is utilised 

 by pigs is not observed even when the albuminoid 

 ratio is as wide as 1 : 12 (p. 39), so that if animals 

 in moderate condition are to be fattened it is 

 sufficient if they get ten parts of carbohydrates 

 (including fat) to one part of protein. When the 

 pigs are in poor condition it is wise to increase the 

 amount of protein by 25-30% for a few weeks at 

 the beginning of the fattening period. The quanti- 

 ties of food constituents which it is best to give will 

 be mentioned later. The amount of fat in the 

 food ought to be kept fairly low on account of the 

 undesirable effect which foods rich in fat have upon 

 the quality of the bacon. On the other hand, the 

 non-nitrogenous portion of the ration can be con- 

 siderably greater than is the case with cattle or 

 sheep, as the pig has greater power of digestibility 

 in this respect. As the fattening advances, and in 

 3-4 months it can be completed, it is good practice 



