53 MAl^UAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIJSTG. 



From the results of large numbers of digestion experi- 

 ments, we are able to tell, with a good degree of certainty, 

 what percentage of the several nutrients of any fodder is 

 digestible, and these results are to be found in tables of 

 " digestion coefficients." 



Suppose, now, that we have the analysis of a sample of 

 average meadow hay of the following composition : 



Water 14 3 per cent. 



Ash 6.3 '' 



Protein Q.7 " 



Crade-fibre 2G.3 '' 



Nitrogen-free extract 41.0 " 



Fat 2.5 " 



100.0 



The average of all available experiments shows that the 

 following proportions of the different nutrients are digest- 

 ible: 



Protein. 56 P^r cents, 



Orade-fibre.. 57 " 



ISTitrogen-free extract 63 '' 



Fat 48 ** 



We therefore multiply the amount of each nutrient con- 

 tained in the fodder by the corresponding digestion co- 

 efficient, and obtain the following results : 



Digestible protein = 9.7 x 0.56= 5 4 per cent. 



'' crade-fibre ==:26.8x 0.57=15.0 '' 



" extract =41.0x0.63=25.8 " 



*' fat = 2.5x0.48= 1.2 " 



The digestible portions of the crude-fibre and nitrogen- 

 free extract have been shown to have the composition of 

 starch, and may be considered as of equal nutritive value, 



