FACILITY OF DIGESTION A FACTOR IN FEEDING 19 
In the first and third periods of the above trials, six cows 
consumed 1,030 pounds of total nutrients, 137 of which was 
protein. In the second trial the amount of protein and total nu- 
trients was practically the same, but the nutrients were derived 
more largely from concentrates. Less energy was required to 
digest the feed eaten in the second period and a larger percent- 
age of the nutrients were available for production. In this case 
the increased production took the form more largely of increase 
‘in live weight, with a slight increase in milk flow. Had the 
trials taken place in an earlier period of the lactation of the 
cows, the increase in the milk flow would probably have been 
greater. This experiment indicates, however, that nutrients 
in concentrates are more valuable than nutrients in rough- 
ages. The value of feed depends not only upon its content of 
digestible nutrients but also upon the ease of digestion and as- 
similation. 
C. CALF MEAL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MILK. 
The food requirements for a given gain increases with the 
age of animals. The steer requires 7.4 pounds of digestible or- 
ganic matter to produce one pound increase in live weight, 
while the calf makes the same gain from 1.57 pounds of dry 
matter.* To secure these economic gains, the ration of the 
calf must be liberal in amount, easily digested and rich in nu- 
trients suitable for growth. 
The calf designed for beef purposes may be pushed for the 
most rapid gains. The dairy calf should be kept in a thrifty 
growing condition, but should not be allowed to become fat. 
“A calf intended for a dairy cow should not gain more than 
one and one-half pounds per day for the first four months and 
-less thereafter.’’+ 
The most rapid gains with calves can be made with mother’s 
*Jordan’s Feeding of Animals, p. 404. 
+Henry’s Feeds and Feeding, p. 340. 
