MAH"UAL OF CATTLE-FEEMITG. 897 



The effect of sncli a fodder, as will be gathered from the 

 chapter on the formation of iiesh, is to increase the stock 

 of circulatory protein in the body (and, of course, the rate 

 of its decomposition also) without causing any essential 

 gain of flesh. A slight deposition of fat might take place 

 in the tissues, but, with such a narrow nutritive ratio, most 

 of it would probably be oxidized. 



First Period. — After this condition of affairs has been 

 well established by the preliminary feeding, the real fat- 

 tening begins. 



In tlie first period the quantity of the non nitrogenous 

 nutrients is increased to about 16.25 lbs., thus considerably 

 widening the nutritive ratio (1 : 6.5), The effect is that 

 the rate of decomposition of the circulatory protein is de- 

 creased and a part of the albuminoids of the food, instead 

 of being rapidly oxidized, is converted into the stable 

 " organized protein." At the same time, much of the fat 

 coming from the decomposition of the protein, as well as 

 that contained in the food, is protected from oxidation 

 and deposited in the body. 



Second Period. — After considerable fat has been de- 

 posited in the animal (after about a third, perhaps, of the 

 period of fattening has passed) it is advisable to gradually 

 increase the quantity of protein in the food to about 3,0 lbs. 

 per day, thus narrowing the nutritive ratio again to 1 : 5.5. 

 i^y thus increasing the proportion of protein, a more rapid 

 fattening may be attained, while the fat already deposited 

 in the body will prevent any great increase of the protein 

 consumption in the body. (Compare page 133.) 



Fodder of the composition here indicated is to be re- 

 garded as the real fattening fodder, and to be continued 

 imaltered for a considerable time. 



Third Period. — In practice it is often customary, to- 



