CHAPTER IL 



FEEDIKa FOR MAIJSTrEN'ANCE, 

 §1. Oxen. 



The Weende Experiments, — In order to obtain the 

 necessary basis for a rational feeding o£ domestic animals, 

 especially of the niminants, it is important to determine 

 the minimiun amount of niitriti\o mattens whicli is neces- 

 sary for full-^^c^'own animals in complete rest, in order to 

 just keep them in average condition. Oxen are especially 

 adapted for sucli experiments, Hince in these animals the 

 production of hair or other portions of the body, or of secre- 

 tions like milic, does not demand any considerable quantity 

 of mitrients, and therefore the demands of the vital pro- 

 cesses on the latter can be determined with sufficient accu- 

 racy. 



The earlier experiments of Henneborg & Stohmann,* 

 at Weende, gave valuable results on this point. They 

 were made on full-grown oxen; the digestibility of the 

 fodder was ascertained directly, and the proteni consnrap- 

 tion and the gain or loss of flesh were also determined. 

 In the absence of a respiration apparatus, the gain or loss 

 of fat conJd only be estimated. 



It was observed that the whole outward appearance of the 

 animals remained unchanged for a considerable time, and 



* *' Beitiage zux Begrundung einer rationelien TiXiMmng clei: Wieder- 

 kauer," H^f 1 1, 



