246 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



This latter forms the essential diet of fattening pigs, which 

 of all animals fully utilize and do well on it ; for every five 

 pounds of barley meal given to pigs as food, they stoi:e up 

 one pound as body weight. 



Malted Barley. — Barley is sometimes given malted, viz. 

 the grains are moistened, spread out and allowed to 

 germinate. As the result of this the seed grows an 

 elementary stem and root, and when the former is about 

 two-thirds the length of the grain, further germination is 

 stopped by drying in a kiln. As the result of the drying 

 the elementary stem and root — now known as malt-dust 

 or combings — fall off the grain, and are removed by 

 screening. 



The grain itself as the result of fermentation has under- 

 gone chemical change, part of the starch being converted 

 into sugar ; in addition to this there is a considerable loss 

 of substance, and it is very doubtful whether malting is not 

 a wasteful process for food purposes. For the sick and 

 debilitated it is useful, and saves the digestive fluids a 

 certain amount of work ; it is also a good food in the 

 rearing of young animals and for milch cows ; with the 

 latter care should be taken in its use as excessive quantities 

 have been said to produce abortion, and that the amount 

 given daily should not on this account exceed four to six 

 pounds. 



Malt-dust is very rich in nitrogen and salts, it contains 

 nearly as much nitrogen as beans, but much of it is in the 

 form of amides. 



Brewers' Grains are the refuse in one of the operations of 

 beer-making. They are largely valued as a food for 

 fattening cattle, but especially for milch cows. They 

 contain a large proportion of water, and on this account 

 are liable to undergo decomposition ; sometimes for con- 

 venience of transport they are dried. 



The amount of grains given daily is about one to one and 

 a half bushels. It is said by some experienced dairy stock 

 keepers that the continued use of grains ruins a cow's 

 constitution. 



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