The scientific basis of rationing animals

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Abstract
Four years ago one of us(1) propounded a method of computing rations for all classes of farm animals on the basis of a maintenance ration related to the animal's live-weight plus a production ration estimated in accordance with the amount and kind of product—such as live-weight increase, work, milk—which the animal is expected to produce. This method is on the same lines as the modern method of computing rations for milch cows which is based on Kellner's work (2). It has been used in practice for the last four years and has been found to be successful, not only as a practical method of computing rations, but more especially as a logical and intelligible method of teaching students. For this latter purpose it is a great advance over the learning of standard rations since it appeals rather to the reasoning powers than to the memory. In view of these considerations, the method has been incorporated in Rations for Livestock (3). Much of the time of the Staff of the Cambridge Animal Nutrition Institute has been devoted, during the last four years, to investigations designed to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the basal metabolism, the maintenance requirement, and the production requirement of farm animals.

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