Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1884 [PAGE 286]

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12 If we consider the relation of the constitution of the feed to the production of flesh and fat, as referred to percentages of carcass, taking the average of the pairs, we find the following:

Nutritive ratio. Protein. Fat.

1:6.82 1:7.56 1:8.23 1:8.94

13.7183 12.9309 11.885 9.063

41.607 44.636 46.878 58.393

These differences, based upon the averages of the pairs, are quite marked, and we are induced from the general character of the results, to believe that they would be equally so in averages secured with a larger number of animals. With a widening of the nutritive ratio there was a decrease in the production of protein and an increase of fat production. And it therefore appears that it is possible, by increase of the nitrogenous constituents of the food, to secure an increase of the flesh or nitrogenous constituent of the body. But the question whether the modification of the usual method of feeding with a view to securing such results will be economical in every way, taking the demands of the market into consideration, as well as the increased labor, attention and cost involved, remains undecided, so far as these experiments are concerned. If we compare the record of feeding, leaving out the sows and taking the averages of the pairs similarly fed, there would indeed seem to be a decrease in production of live weight, with a widening of the nutritive ratio. But the average daily gain of one of the cross-bred barrows appears abnormally low, and if we reject it, the relations are not sufficiently definite to base any conclusion upon. It is unfortunate that we were limited to so few animals in these experiments, for it is probable that the relations above indicated would have been confirmed by other subjects. From what precedes, these experiments tend to show: 1. 'That in point of flesh production, the Berkshire is superior to the Poland China. 2. That in point of production total live weight, these relations are directly reversed. 3. That increase of nitrogenous matters in the feed, increases the proportion of flesh in preference to fat in the animal body. 4. That the narrower nutritive ratio has a tendency to increase of total gain of live weight. 5. That the addition of nitrogenous matters, such as cotton and linseed meal, or even of dried blood prepared at the packing establishment, is worthy of the serious consideration and careful experiments of all interested in the great industry of production of meats. In conclusion, I desire to express my indebtedness to Mr. F . W. Eberlein, of the class of '84, who, previous to his graduation, performed the analytical work of the experiments here reported. And I further desire to acknowledge the hearty support, encouragement and cooperation received from the Begent and other officers of the University.