130 



MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEKDma 



The same amount of food caused in one case a loss of 

 2Y1 grms, of flesh, and in another a gain of 635 grms., and 

 a corresponding variation in the protein coiibnniption is 

 observed. This can only be explained by the difference in 

 the previous food. Where, by an abundant supply of al- 

 buminoids, a large amount of circulatory jprotein had been 

 formed in the body, a decrease of the albuminoids of the 

 food caused a decrease in the protein consumption, but not 

 to an amount corresponding to the decrease in the supply ; 

 the animal lost flesh. On the other hand, an increased 

 supply of albuminoids caused an increase in the protein 

 consumption ; but the increase, like the decrease in the 

 other ease, v^as not proportional to the increased supplj^, 

 and a gain of flesh resulted. The figures of the above 

 table refer to the first day of the new feeding, and we 

 gather fiom them that the protein consumption is depen- 

 dent not only on the amount of protein in the food but on 

 the bodily condition resulting from the preceding feeding. 



Equilibrium soon established -with Food Supply. — 

 The gain or loss of flesh observed on the first day after 

 a change in the supply of protein does not usually con- 

 tinue long. Within a short time — usually two to four 

 days — the consumption of protein in the body becomes 

 equal to the amount supplied in the food, and no further 

 gain or loss of flesh takes place. The two following ex- 

 amples may serve to illustrate this. 



Food. 



Previous food. 



CONStlMPTION OF FLBSH. 





Day before 



1st day. 



2d day. 



8d day. 



2,500 gims. meat. 

 2,000 '* " 



1,800 grms. meat. 

 2,500 *' " 



Grm" 



1,800 

 2,500 



2,158 

 2,229 



Grms 



2,480 

 1,970 



Grni'^ 



2,532 



