MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEBIlSra. 



439 



Production of Flesh. — We have ali^eady learned tliat 

 the proportion of the albuminoids of the food which is 

 converted into flesh is quite small in full-grown animals, 

 while by far the larger proportion of the protein is de- 

 composed in the body and excreted in the urine. In the 

 young calf, on the contrary, more protein is retained in 

 the body than is oxidized and excreted, the result being a 

 rapid gain of Hesh. The following table shows the rela- 

 tion between consumption and gain of protein per day for 

 an average animal weighing 100 lbs. : 





Hifcrogen. 



Equufilent to 

 protem- 



Eaten 



......Pounds.. 



,07B 



.488 



Excreted in dung- 



a 



.004 



.025 



Digested 



a 



.074 



.463 



Excreted in urine . . 



1 $ 



.020 

 S7 



.125 

 37 



Ketained in body . . . 



{ Pounds.. 



.054 

 73 



-338 

 73 



Notwithstanding the large amount of protein eaten and 

 the narrow nutritive ratio, both of which circumstances 

 tend to increase the protein consumption in the body, the 

 young calf excretes a comparatively small quantity of 

 nitrogen in the urine. While it eats nearly as much protein 

 as a well-fed dog of equal weight, it excretes about as much 

 as the latter animal does in hunger. 



In other words, the sucking animal (in case of the calf 

 at least) is able to apply a far larger proportion of the al- 

 buminoids wdiich it receives in its food to the building iip 



