348 FEEDING WITH SUGAR BEETS, SUGAR, ETC. 



VARYING DIGESTIBILITY OF COARSE FODDER WHEN FED WITH ROOTS. 



It has been noticed that potatoes have a very much greater depressing effect 

 than beets for example, but this was more especially noticeable when a large 

 amount was used. The depression was the greatest when the nutritive ratio 

 was the narrowest. One may take these facts into consideration when calcu- 

 lating the components for a ration. 



Experiments made do not prove that beets when entering a ration affect 

 its digestibility according to ajiy ratio that may be determined in advance. 

 Upon general principles, it may be admitted that fodders rich in amides intro- 

 duce carbohydrates or nitrogen-free extract into the ration, under which cir- 

 cumstances their coefficient of digestibility is very high. Experiments made 

 in feeding beets to sheep show it to be 90 to 95; as for the pig, his digestive 

 organs are much better adapted to potatoes than beets. 



When considering these experiments, they must be looked at as a whole 

 and not in detail, and the safest rule is to rely upon excess rather than a 

 deficiency, especially of protein. For this reason, the writer has constantly 

 recommended that in feeding beets and pulps to cattle care be taken to add 

 not only sufficient straw, but also a reasonable amount of oil cake. 



Digestibility of fatty substances. In most works upon cattle feeding, too little 

 importance is given to the digestibility of fatty substances. The ether ex- 

 tracts, properly speaking, are more or less digestible, but too much reliance 

 should not be placed upon these; for example chlorophyl or the coloring mat- 

 ter of plants is soluble in ether, but yet is not digestible. The same may be 

 said of wax and rosins, so that the digestibility of crude fat (ether extract) 

 depends upon various circumstances which are largely influenced by the special 

 fodder. Sixty per cent, of the fatty substance of fresh clover is digestible, 

 while in certain straws only 35 per cent, can be utilized. 



The importance of using a by-fodder containing oil has been appreciated for 

 centuries. The experiments of Crusius have long since demonstrated that 

 fatty substances increase the digestibility of protein and carbohydrates. How- 

 ever, on this question opinions differ. Straw can certainly be better utilized 



