74 MAIKE STATE COLLEGE 



The figures in the last of the above tables were arranged so as 

 to show clearly how the rations fed to these steers compare with 

 the standard German rations for growing animals. In order to 

 make this comparison easy there has been calculated the pounds 

 of the various nutrients fed to each animal for 1,000 pounds live 

 weight. Two things are noticeable : 



(1.) That in no instance was the total amount of digestible 

 nutrients so large as called for in the standard rations, and (2) 

 there was no case where the proportion of digestible protein was 

 as large. In three cases the amount of protein fell very much 

 below the theoretical ration. Of course if the total amount of 

 digestible material had been larger, gain would in all probability 

 have been greater, and in this respect the German standard is 

 very likely nearer right than the rations actually fed However 

 this may be, it cannot be doubted that the experiment adds much 

 to the increasing volume of testimony that for growing animals 

 so large an amount of digestible protein is not necessary as is 

 called for by the German standards. While there is un- 

 doubtedly a limit which we cannot fall below without seriously 

 affecting the efficiency of the ration, that limit is unquestionably 

 considerably below 2 1-2 pounds of digestible protein daily for 

 each 1 ,000 pounds of live weight. 



Whether or not any especial care is necessary to prevent an 

 unbalanced ration, or whether the ordinary cattle foods may be 

 combined indifferently without regard to their composition, there 

 being no danger of a deficiency of protein in any case* provided 

 the animals are fed generously, is a question to be settled by 

 future careful investigation. What is found to be most econ- 

 omical in feeding for growth may not, and does not seem likely to 

 be true, in feeding milch cows. 



