123 MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIKO. 



amonat witlioiit serious derangement of tlie vital func- 

 tions. Tliis eontinual and necessary process we shall call 

 j)7'otthi eomumjjtion.'^ This, of conrsej must not be con- 

 founded with the amount consumed bj the animal in its 

 food. It denotes a very different thing. 



In tlie second place, from a suflS.eient and suitable fod- 

 der more protein may be resorbed into the circulation 

 than is needed to supply the consumption under the given 

 circumstances, and this surplus produces a deposition of 

 protein and becomes part of tlie body. Evidently, what- 

 ever decreases the protein consumption and increases the 

 amoimt deposited in the tissues is so much gained in 

 feeding. 



The protein consumption is not to be considered as 

 waste, for it is necessary to the vital processes and, as we 

 shall see, is generally greater the richer the food, but an 

 improperly constituted ration may unnecessarily increase it 

 and result in an unproductive use of fodder. The smaller 

 the protein consumption can be made, consistently with 

 the proper performance of the vital functions, the more of 

 the protein of the food is available for the production of 

 flesh. 



*We have seen (Chap. V.) tliat from the urinary nitrogen we can 

 calculate the amount of either dry protein or fresh flesh decomposed 

 in the body, by multiplying respectively by 6 25 or 29.4. In most of 

 the experiments which have been made on carnivora the results have 

 been expressed as flesh, while in those executed on herbivora the re- 

 sults have been calculated as dry protein. In the one case we should 

 speak of the *' consumption of flesh," and, in the otber, of the 

 *' protein consumption." The two are equivalent, but not equal, 

 the consumption of flesh being 47 times the protein consump- 

 tion. 



In the following pages we shall have occasion to use both expres- 

 sions. 



