and of their Increase irliilst Fattening. 
483 
records of the numerous ultimate analyses of foods wliicli liave 
been hitherto made, are, it is true, of high value and interest in 
a statistical point of view. But now possessing them, as the 
basis of certain general estimates, the next desideratum is — to 
examine more closely into the nature and condition of the prox- 
imate compounds of food-stuffs — to distinguish those which are 
digestible and assimilable from those which are not so — to de- 
termine the relative values of the comparable or mutually 
replaceable portions — and above all, to fix our standards of com- 
parative value with more of reference to direct experimental 
evidence on the point, and to existing knowledge of the com- 
position of animal bodies, than has been hitherto usual, or even 
possible. 
The main conclusions from the whole inquiry may be briefly 
enumerated as follows : — 
I. — Food and Increase. 
1. Fattening oxen, fed liberally upon good food, composed of 
a moderate proportion of cake or corn, some hay or straw chaff, 
with roots or other succulent food, and well-managed, will, on the 
average, consume 12 to 13 lbs. of the dry substance of such mixed 
food, per 100 lbs. live-weight, per week ; and should give 1 lb. 
of increase for 12 to 13 lbs. dry substance so consumed. Sheep 
fattening under somewhat similar circumstances (but with a 
less proportion of hay or straw), will consume about 15 lbs. of 
the dry substance of the mixed foods, per 100 lbs. live-weight, 
per week ; and should yield over a considerable period of time, 
1 part of increase in live-weight for about 9 parts of the dry 
substance of their food. If the food be of good quality, oxen 
and sheep may give a maximum amount of increase for a given 
amount of total dry substance of food, even provided the latter 
contain as much as 5 parts of total non-nitrogenous to 1 of nitro- 
genous compounds. 
2. Pigs, fed liberally upon food composed chiefly of corn, will 
consume fi'om 26 to 30 lbs. per 100 lbs. live-weight, per week, of 
the dry substance of such food. They should yield 1 part of in- 
crease in live-weight for 4 to 5 parts of the dry substance of the 
food. They may give a maximum amount of increase for a 
given amount of dry substance of such food, if it contain as 
much as 5 or even 6 parts of total non-nitrogenous to 1 of 
nitrogenous compounds. 
[The cereal grains contain on the average rather more than 
6 parts ol total non-nitrogenous to 1 of nitrogenous compounds ; 
and the leguminous seeds often not much more than 2 parts to 1. 
