5 



bran was found to contain but 0.07% of lime, requiring- 200 lbs. 

 per day to give the required amount. Rice bran, (two samples) 

 contained 0.15 and 0.08% respectively. Cocoanut meal, 0.08%. 

 Barley contains 0.05 to 0.10%. It is easily seen from these 

 figures that these concentrates in the amounts used to balance 

 a ration, cannot make up any deficiency of lime in a sorghum or 

 grass ration. 



Fodder Material. High in Liine. — -Among green fodders the 

 legumes are decidedly higher in lime content than the grasses. 

 Two samples of alfalfa were found to contain 0.45 and 0.41% 

 respectively. Spanish clover {Meibomia uncinata) 0.19% and 

 Meibomia triflorum 0.70%. Algaroba beans (two samples) 

 contained 0.28 and 0.34% respectively. Two samples of alga- 

 roba seeds alone, contained 1.00 and 1.10%. 



Among miscellaneous fodder materials furnishing lime, may 

 be mentioned dried brewers grains with 0.25%, linseed meal 

 0.40% and waste molasses. The lime content of waste molasses 

 is quite variable and it is not possible to state the average 

 amount present. Two samples of molascuite or sugar bran 

 made from such molasses, contained 0.87 and 1.00%. 



Consequences of Feeding a Ration Deficient i?i Lime. — The re- 

 sults which follow a lack of lime in the fodder have been al- 

 ready outlined but it is desired to emphasize particularly one 

 point; the relation of lime to milk production. Experimental 

 data are lacking on this point, but physiological considerations 

 point to the conclusion, that the amount of lime in the fodder 

 may very easily be the limiting factor in milk production. 



The amount and composition of the ash in the fluids, blood, 

 milk, etc., of an animal body are remarkably constant. There 

 is, in health, a constant adjustment of the distribution of the 

 mineral ingredients, and any wide variation from the normal 

 ash composition of the fluids of the body is an indication of 

 diseased or abnormal conditions. Those who have to do with 

 live stock generally realize the importance of lime to the young 

 growing animal in furnishing bone material, but many do not 

 realize the comparatively large amount of lime in milk. This 

 high lime content is of course really a provision of nature to 

 meet the needs of the young animal. 



There is abundant evidence to prove that the lime content 

 of cows milk does not vary, except within narrow limits, even 



