MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEBING. 451 



more rapid gain in weight at first is doubtless cansed, in 

 part at least, by the power of tlie joiing animal to appro- 

 priate to tlie building np of its body a large pi*oportion of 

 tlie very considerable amount of protein contained in its 

 fodder. Another circumstance, however, must be taken 

 into account, viz., the fact that the flesh of youns: and 

 rapidly growing animals contains a larger percentage of 

 w^ater than that of older animals. This fact should alwavs 

 be borne in mind in comparing the effects of a ration upon 

 young and old animals simply by the gain of live-weight. 



Weiske's Experiments. — ^"Some recent experiments by 

 "Weiske '^' on the feeding of lambs are of interest in this 

 connection. During nine consecutive periods of about one 

 and one-quarter months each, covering the time from the 

 fourth to the fifteenth montli of the animals' age, the fod- 

 der of the animals was carefully weighed out each day, and 

 any portions left uneaten were also weighed and deducted. 

 At the close of the ninth period came a pause of about nine 

 months, after which a tenth experhnent was made, the 

 anima'ls being then full-grown. 



The fodder consisted at first of hay and peas. As the 

 experiments progressed the quantity of the former was 

 gradually increased and that of the latter diminished, till 

 in the eighth, ninth, and tenth periods the ration was com- 

 posed exclusively of hay. In each period the live-weight, 

 the digestibility of the fodder, and the excretion of nitro- 

 gen in the urine were determined, the investigation of the 

 excrements and the weighing extending over eight days. 



That the fodder was abundantly sufiicient was shown % 

 the regular increase in weight, and also by the fact that the 

 animals gained weight faster than similar animals from the 

 same herd on good pasturage. 



* Landw. Jahrbucber, IX., 205. 



