MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDING. 117 



liold 100 to 160 lbs. of water. Tlie excretion of dung, too, 

 is more or less irregular, especially for the first week or two 

 on a new ration. 



" Grouven found in many of liis f eediug experiments 

 tliat during the first week the amount of dung excreted 

 was often as much as twenty pounds too great or too 

 sman* 



To get the most correct results from live-weight, the 

 animals should be weighed always at the same time in the 

 day, either before or after eating, but always under the 

 same circumstances, so far as possible. With all precau- 

 tions, however, the live-weight of a thousand-pound animal 

 may vary as much as 50 lbs. daily. 



Stohmann gives the following example : 



An ox weiglied. May 23. 1398.3 lbs.* 



" " 24 1242.4 '* 



*' '' 30,.... 12G9.8 *' 



'* '* 31 1288.3 ^* 



" June 3 , 1271.1 " 



" "■ 4 1210.7 '' 



'* 12 1294.2 " 



It is evident from the above that the live-weight is a 

 very uncertain criterion for judging of the effect of a ra- 

 tion, and that for scientific purposes, where an accurate 

 knowledge of the gain or loss of flesh and fat is required, 

 it is almost worthless. 



These remarks are not to be understood as calling in 

 question the practical value of the live- weight. The scales 

 are (or should be) an important adjunct to the stable, but 

 it is all the more necessary, on that account, to know how 

 far their indications can be trusted, while every one who 



* 1 German lb. equals about 1.1 English lb. 





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