Dec. 3, 1917 
Fatness of Cattle and Feed Utilization 
461 
subtracting this amount from the observed heat production will give the 
basal katabolism. The calculations for periods 1 and 4 are: 
Period 1 (unfattened), 10,905—(i,i97X4.4629)=5,563 Calories. 
Period 4 (fattened), 14,095—(1,256X5.2156)—7,544 Calories. 
Similar computations for periods 2 and 3 would, of course, yield the 
same results. 
The results per head and also those computed from the averages of the 
weights reported on p. 458 to a uniform live weight of 1,000 pounds for 
the sake of comparison with other data are shown in Table XV. 
Tabi^E XV .—Computed basal katabolism per day 
Condition. 
Per head. 
Per 1,000 pounds, live 
weight. 
In propor¬ 
tion to 
weight. 
In propor¬ 
tion to two- 
thirds 
power of 
weight. 
XJnfattened. 
Calories . 
5 > S63 
7.544 
Calories, 
4 » 9 I 9 
5,275 
Calories . 
5,125 
5,943 
Fattened. 
In the unfattened state the animal had a rather low basal katabolism, 
the average of 23 similar determinations by the writers (r, p. 289) being 
5,906 Calories per 1,000 pounds, as compared with 5,125 Calories in this 
case. 
It is evident that the major factor determining the lower economic 
efficiency in the fattened state was the very marked increase (36 per 
cent) in the basal katabolism. Doubtless this increase was due in part 
to the greater body weight to be supported*while standing; but, as the 
table shows, the katabolism increased more rapidly than the weight or the 
body surface as estimated by the Meek formula. Apparently the ac¬ 
cumulation of fat tended in some way to stimulate the general metab¬ 
olism. These results are quite in harmony with those obtained by Kellner 
and Kohler {6; 7, p . 14) in experiments on the same subject. This greater 
maintenance requirement, together with the relatively somewhat smaller 
feed consumption, was chiefly responsible for the more expensive gains 
by the fattened animal. 
net energy values 
From the foregoing the net energy values of the rations may also be 
computed as shown in Table XVI. 
