1909.] Experiments in Feeding Live Stock. 



93 i 



will be surprised at the lack of quality in the British jackass 

 (or donkey stallion). In this respect Egypt is superior to 

 Italy, and the Egyptian Agricultural Department is breeding 

 animals that might with great advantage be imported into 

 the United Kingdom. The difficulty is that with us the 

 donkey is the poor man's quadruped, and he expects to be 

 supplied with a useful beast at from £3 to ^5. A choice 

 beast cannot be produced at that price. In two cases known 

 to the writer, country gentlemen imported Egyptian ' jacks ' 

 to the great advantage of the working men of their districts. 

 This might be done oftener at an insignificant cost to the 

 landowner. The animal can do garden and railway station 

 work for the mansion and be used for stud purposes when 

 required. Such an animal can be bought in Egypt for £20 

 at three years old, and his transport to the United Kingdom 

 may cost some £5 more." 



Few points are of more importance in the feeding of live 

 stock than the question how far one food may be substituted 

 for another without materially affecting 



Experiments in the the q ualit y o f the ration. Knowledge 



Feeding of Live on this point enables a farmer to adjust 

 Stock. his feeding to fluctuations in the price 



of purchased foods, and to make the 

 best use of home-grown foods. An example is mentioned 

 in a recent Report by Prof. Gilchrist, where it is pointed 

 out that in November, 1903, the price of maize and of hay 

 was the same, viz., £$ a ton, while in October, 1908, maize 

 was £y a ton and hay less than £$ a ton. Assuming, 

 therefore, that 3 lb. maize meal contain practically the same 

 feeding constituents as 5 lb. meadow hay, it would have 

 been profitable in 1903 to sell hay from the farm and buy 

 maize, whereas at the prices prevailing in 1908 the reverse 

 would be the case. 



This report* gives the result of some trials in which the 

 equivalent feeding value of different foods, as shown by the 

 published tables of the composition and digestible consti- 



• ! " County of Northumberland, Agricultural Experiment Station, Cockle Park, 

 Bull. 12. — Feeding Experiments with cattle and sheep, 1904-8. 



,302 



