Digestion Influence of Animal 137 



was largely increased and the protein remained con- 

 stant or was diminished. The depression of the di- 

 gestibility of the crude fiber is not easily explained 

 on any other ground than that of the influence of the 

 greater proportion of starch. 



What is claimed as the effect of a dispropor- 

 tionate addition to the supply of carbohydrates does 

 not appear to be true of a similar increase in the 

 ration of fat and easily digested protein. Several ex- 

 periments in which, oils and albuminoids have been 

 added freely to a basal ration did not indicate that 

 such addition had any material effect upon digesti- 

 bility. 



CONDITIONS PERTAINING TO THE ANIMAL: SPECIES, 

 BREED, AGE, AND INDIVIDUALITY 



The conclusion reached by the early experimenters 

 in the field of animal nutrition that the digestive effi- 

 ciency of the several species of ruminants was prac- 

 tically uniform, has not been set aside by more recent 

 observations. The number of experiments upon which 

 this conclusion was based was large, and their verdict 

 is not likely to be reversed by observations less ex- 

 tensive or less complete. 



The following coefficients were obtained from Ger- 

 man trials with meadow hay: 



Dry substance digested from meadow hay (per cent) 



Samples Best Medium Poor 



Sheep 42 67 61 55 



Oxen 10 67 64 56 



Horse.. . 18 58 50 46 



