SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—M. 385 
ration. The results show that, compared with the control lot, the addition of cod- 
liver oil and marmite to an ordinary cereal ration was of doubtful value. The lots 
receiving the basal ration plus minerals made considerably better growth as measured 
by gains in weight. The addition of cod-liver oil and marmite to the basal ration 
plus minerals still further increased the rate of growth, although the cod-liver oil and 
marmite added to the basal ration alone had little effect. The suggestion is made 
that the value of cod-liver oil is at least partly due to its effect in facilitating the 
retention of minerals. The experiments with laying pullets were designed to ascertain 
to what extent the value of a 10 per cent. addition of fish meal to a cereal ration was 
due to either the mineral matter, the protein, or both. The pullets were divided into 
five lots of eight each. Each lot was housed in a laying trial pen and trap nested for 
a period of a year. The lots were fed as follows :— 
Lot 1. Basal ration (consisting of cereals only). 
Lot 2. Basal ration plus 2 per cent. Rowett Mineral Mixture. 
Lot 3. Basal ration plus Soya Bean Meal plus Rowett Mineral Mixture. 
Lot 4. Basal ration plus Blood Meal plus Rowett Mineral Mixture. 
Lot 5. Basal ration plus 10 per cent. Fish Meal plus Rowett Mineral Mixture. 
The total quantity of mineral matter in Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 was the same. The 
protein content of the rations fed to Lots 3, 4 and 5 was also approximately equal 
compared with Lot 1. The addition of minerals for Lot 2 increased the egg yield 
by 20 per cent.; Soya Bean and minerals in Lot 3 by 27 per cent. Blood Meal and 
minerals in Lot 3 reduced the egg yield by 4 per cent., whilst Fish Meal in Lot 5 
increased the egg yield by 32 per cent. 
10, Dr. N. C. Wricut and Mr. W. L. Lirrtz.— The Calcium Content 
of the Blood of Cows affected with Milk Fever. 
The work detailed in this paper had its origin in the observation that the tetany 
of milk fever presented similar clinical symptoms to those which have been found to 
be associated with the lowered calcium content of the blood of parathyroidectomised 
animals. The experimental work consisted in the estimation of the blood calcium 
content of the cows affected with milk fever, and after recovery. 
In eight cases the average values were :— 
Cows ‘down’ with milk fever... --- 5.15 mgm. per 100 gm. of plasma 
Cows after recovery Sd ee «- 9.60 re a 9 “3 
In four other cases (all taken from the same farm) the average values were :— 
Cows ‘down’ with milk fever... --- 5.40 mgm. per 100 gm. of plasma 
Cows after recovery ae sas --» 7.60 3 ey a 
(Note the low normal value in these cases, indicating very slow recovery.) 
From these results it is apparent that the symptoms of milk fever are accompanied 
by a very considerable fall in the calcium content of the blood plasma. The cause of 
this fall is at present uncertain, but the localised nature of the disease, the fact that 
it occurs chiefly in the spring (i.e., after winter rationing, when calcium assimilation 
may be defective owing to lack of vitamin and of sunlight), and its common occurrence 
in high-yielding cows (where calcium depletion may be considerable), point to the 
possible influence of inadequate nutrition in the incidence of the disease. 
” 
11. Sir Roserr Greic.—The Elimination of Low-grade Stock. 
Too many inferior cattle are bred throughout the Empire. The avoidable loss 
from the use of inferior stock is immeasurable. One inferior animal costs as much 
‘to maintain and to look after as a better one, and about as much to produce, But 
‘the chief objection to it is that it costs much more to fatten, or, in the case of a cow, 
it costs more to produce a gallon of milk. The difference between the high-grade and 
low-grade animal is very great. The publication of milk records has made this 
apparent. 
| Efforts have been made in most countries to grade up the live stock, but with the 
exception of an attempt by Henry VIII to eliminate the scrub bull, it is only within 
recent years that systematic attempts have been made by administration and legisla- 
tion to improve the quality of live stock on a comprehensive scale. These attempts 
by Government departments have taken the form of subsidies or premiums paid to 
the owners of superior sires, or part payment of service fees, or loans of superior bulls, 
rams and boars. Still more recently in some countries legislation has been passed to 
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