TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 747 
reason why it was chosen was that it was found that practical men, even of the 
intelligent and educated class, had a profound suspicion of it as a food for calves. 
This suspicion appeared to be based on the general unsuitability of cotton-cake 
as a food for young stock. 
Three series of calyes were fed during the experiments. Hach series consisted 
of three lots treated as follows :— 
Lot 1. Fed on whole milk till time of weaning. 
Lot 2. Fed on whole milk till three to five weeks old, then whole milk 
gradually replaced by separated milk and cod-liver oil, or by separated milk, 
cod-liver oil, and a meal gruel. 
Lot 3. Fed on whole milk till three to five weeks old, then the whole milk 
gradually replaced by separated milk, cotton-seed oil, and a meal gruel. 
After weaning, the calves were all treated similarly till about two years old, 
when they were sent to the butcher, fat. Records of the weights were kept till 
the time of slaughter, when the carcase weights and a report on the carcases by 
the butcher were obtained. 
The following table gives a summary of the results :— 
Lot 1. Lot 2. Lot 3. 
= s. Whole Milk Cod-liver Oil Cotton-seed Oil 
Total number of calves . 14 15 15 
Average weight at start 109 lb. 113 lb. 107 lb. 
Average weight at wean- 
ing . : ‘ : 309 Ib. 290 lb. 280 Ib. 
Average increase when 
weaned . : ; 200 Ib. 177 lb. 173 lb. 
Average cost of feeding 
to time of weaning (per 
calf) 2 > 31. 19s. 3d. ll. 7s. 11. 58. 9d. 
Average cost of food per 
pound of increase. 482d. 183d. 1-79d. 
Average weight when sent 
to butcher ‘ 1,150°3 lb. 1,117 1b. 1,078°3 lb. 
Average increase when 
sent to butcher . : 1,041°3 Ib. 1,004 1b. 971°3 lb. 
The table shows that there is little difference, on the average, between the 
increases made by calves fed with cotton-seed oil and those fed with cod-liver 
oil. The cost of the cotton-seed oil feeding was slightly less. There did seem 
to be a distinct difference in favour of the whole-milk calves till the time of 
weaning. After that there was no significant difference, and at the time of 
slaughter the differences between the lots was so small as to be within the limits 
of experimental error. So far as the evidence of these experiments goes it shows 
that cotton-seed oil is as suitable as cod-liver oil as a substitute for butter-fat in 
feedinz calves. 
7. The Feeding of Cattle. By J. Ross. 
DISCUSSION. 
Dr. F. G. Horxrys remarked that it seemed to be characteristic of the 
present time for departments of scientific knowledge in which a certain sense of 
finality, conjoined with consequent dogmatism, had existed, to undergo revolu- 
tion. Such a revolution seemed to be in progress in the science of nutrition. 
Its dogma has been that the efficiency of a dietary can be measured by its 
energy and protein content alone, other details being of comparatively small 
importance. The revolution consists in the recognition of the fact that these 
details may be of the very greatest importance. Facts recently acquired indicate 
that the quality, as well as the quantity, of protein must be considered, and 
