FEEDING OF GROWING ANIMALS 285 



and this it only loses gradually. As with the 

 protein, so also with the mineral substances which 



are necessary for the formation of the import 

 vital organs. In the above case the sucking-calf 

 retained 53% of the total ash of the milk which it 

 consumed. 



Of the phosphoric acid 72-5% pt in the 



body, of the lime as much as 97%, and of the other 

 mineral substances (potash, soda, oxide of iron, 

 magnesia) 20 40%, of which chlorine was the I 

 only 4%. Lime and phosphoric acid were, there- 

 fore, retained to a much larger extent than the 

 other substances, in the case of the lim r : only 3% 

 ing into the excreta According to this H 

 almost seems as though the milk of highly bred 

 cattle was too poor in this material, which i 

 important for the making of bone. The eag 

 with which calves eat mortar, chalk, or other lime- 

 COntaining substances, points to the milk being 

 deficient in this respect and I bility of 



giving some precipitated chalk to animals of this 

 kind. 



With regard to the food metabolism after 

 weaning, investigations with lambs (Southdown — 

 Merino cross) from the 5-24 monl 



ilts noted below. The ration which was given 

 kept the animals in good condition and they de- 

 veloped satisfactorily, digesting the following quan- 

 tities per head per day : — 



