988 



The Feeding of Farm Stock. [march, 



by an albuminoid ratio of i : 10. A wider ratio than this can 

 only be justified by the necessity to use up supplies of food- 

 stuffs that have very wide albuminoid ratios (e.g., straw and 

 roots). It will then mean that a greater weight of food must 

 be consumed by the animal in order to get the necessary 

 minimum supply of albuminoids. 



If cheap supplies of food rich in albuminoids are available, 

 the albuminoid ratio may be considerably narrowed, but it 

 is not advisable, and rarely practicable, to increase the pro- 

 portion of albuminoids beyond that which corresponds to an 

 albuminoid ratio of 1:4. 



Animals that are in poor, lean condition at the outset of 

 fattening should receive a more liberal supply of albuminoids 

 for a few weeks than those which start in fair condition, in 

 order to ensure that the fleshy tissues shall be fully developed 

 and made capable of storing up large quantities of fat. 



In deciding what concentrated foods shall be included in 

 the ration, any influence that they are known to exercise upon 

 the quality of the carcass should be kept in mind. Thus, maize, 

 rice-meal, oats, and linseed cake have a softening tendency 

 upon the fat, whilst cotton cakes, peas and beans have the 

 opposite effect. 



In order to obtain the best results in fattening, it is neces- 

 sary that the activities of the animal shall be confined as far 

 as possible to the consumption of food. It is necessary, 

 therefore, to restrict greatly the facilities for exercise. The 

 provision of abundant litter will also contribute to the same 

 end, by inducing the animal to lie down more frequently, 

 as will also all other measures that promote its comfort. 



Working Animals. — The requirements of the working 

 animal, so far as the composition of its ration is concerned, 

 are in the main similar to those of the fattening animal, since, 

 under normal conditions, muscular energy is chiefly generated 

 from the carbohydrates and oils of the food, and least of all 

 from the albuminoids. It would thus appear that the ration in 

 the case of full-grown animals may have an albuminoid ratio 

 as wide as 1:8 or even 1 : 10. Much depends upon the 

 character of the work to be performed. If great calls are made 

 for a rapid or heavy output of energy, as in the case of 

 racehorses, practical experience shows that it is not advisable 

 to cut down the supply of albuminoids to such an extent as 



