MANUAL OJ? CATTLE-FEEDING. 445 



is the most concentrated of all tlie non-nitrogenous nntri- 

 eiits, and in tlie finely divided state in wliicli it exibts in 

 milk 18 probably veiy easily digestible by tlie young ani- 

 mal. In addition to tliis, tlie greater palatability of nor- 

 mal milk is an important factor in determining the effect 

 of feeding, as lias already been explained in connection 

 witli other fodders. Whole milk is the natural fodder of 

 young animals, and the one whose composition must be 

 imitated as closely as possible in all attempts to substitute 

 other materials for it, and which, for the first two weeks 

 at least, should, if possible, form the only food. 



During the first four to six w^eeks, an increase of 1 lb. 

 live-weight is obtained, on the average, with about 10 lbs. of 

 milk (1.25 lb. dry organic matter). At first the quantity 

 of milk is a little less, and toward the close a little more. 

 Since, however, the composition of milk is variable, the 

 amount of fat, especially, varying from 2 to 5 per cent., and 

 the nutritive ratio consequently from 1 : 3.3 to 1 : 5.5, it is 

 easy to see why the effect produced by the same quantity 

 of milk should vary considerably in different cases. 



Substitutes for Milk. — It is sometimes desirable to 

 replace the milk partly or wholly by other feeding-stuffs. 

 In doing this, it should be the aim to compound a ration 

 approaching milk as closely as possible, not only in com- 

 position, but also (and this is quite as important) in prop- 

 erties. It should be easily digestible, liquid il possibkj 

 and should be fed w^arm. 



This is not the place to enter into a discussion of the 

 various substitutes for milk which have been proposed. It 

 is our office simply to point out the principle on which 

 they should be based, vi^., as close an imitation of the 

 composition and properties of normal milk as possible. 



Tlie tables of the composition and digestibility of feed- 



