140 Cattle Problems. 



than a double rate, was equivalent to requiring full and 

 complete work in only half time. In fact, the grass was 

 inferior in quality because too rapidly grown. 



In young calves, fatted for veal, the few weeks allowed 

 for their growth is so short a period that the cells have not 

 time to thicken their walls, or consolidate their contents 

 into mature, permanent structure. The process of tissue 

 change is incomplete from a deficient supply of oxygen, as 

 shown by the pale color of veal flesh ; much of the watery 

 portion of the calf's blood remains in the cells, causing 

 the insipid and immature quality in veal. But, if enough 

 time be allowed, this watery quality in the cells in veal is 

 changed by internal cell-work, which gradually consoli- 

 dates and matures the growth by a slow, but incessant pro- 

 cess of change, until at mature age, crude and unnecessary 

 ingredients have been eliminated by long-continued cell 

 action ; and the flesh becomes firm in texture, and mature 

 in quality. But, of course, a pure, sound quality of flesh 

 can only be formed from good, sound feed and blood, 

 chiefly during regular activity. 



In feeding steers for beef, so as to produce rapid increase 

 in weight, upder confinement, there is much nutritive ma- 

 terial wasted, because it cannot be digested ; digestive 

 power, which depends upon muscular action to a consider- 

 able extent, being also weakened, as the muscular struct- 

 ure, generally, is reduced by confinement. Solvent di- 

 gestion is similarly reduced, the secretion of the digest- 

 ive juices being lessened in like proportion, as the muscu- 

 lar power is weakened. 



It is evident, then, that digestion is not increased by 

 merely increasing the food of confined cattle, nor is there 

 any sufficient reason why digestion should be expected to 

 take place at a rate that is 25 to 50 per cent more rapid 

 than the rate that produces the best quality of animal 

 growth. 



