344 MANUAL OF CATTLE'-FEEDIKa. 



sliow that tliis animal digests beans as coini>letely as blieep 



do. 1 • 1 • 



The digestibility of peas has only been deterrauied m 



experiments on swine. The results agree pretty closely 



with those obtained with beans in experiments on rmni- 



nants. 



In some experiments by Ilellriegel & Lncanus on tlie 

 digestibility of lupines by sheep, the coefficients 97 and 81 

 for protein and nitrogen-free extract were obtained. In 

 later experiments, by Stohmann, fully 90 per cent, of the 

 protein of lupines was digested by goats ; and it was at the 

 same time observed that this bye-fodder aided the resorp^ 

 tion of the non-nitrogenous constituents of meadow hay. 



All the observations hitherto made show that the diges- 

 tibility of the legumes is comparatively great, and that, on 

 the average, at least for peas and beans, a coefficient of 

 nearly 90 may be assumed for protein, and of 95 for the 

 nitrogen-free extract. 



Uses.— Unlike the grains, the legumes are dispropor- 

 tionately rich in protein, and may therefore be appro- 

 priately used to supplement fodder deficient in this sub- 

 stance and to bring the amount of albuminoids in a ration 

 up to the desired standard. They form a very coueen- 

 trated fodder, and, on account of their richness in protein, 

 are well adapted for working animals and for fattening ; 

 but they f^hould, if possible, form only a part of the grain 

 ration. For milking and suckling animals they are less 



liked. 



Lupines, when not submitted to some treatment to re- 

 move their bitter principle, are eaten most readily and with 

 least danger of ill-offeetb by sheep and goats, while horbes 

 become accustomed to them less readily, and cattle hardly 

 at all. 



