CLASSIFICATION OF CATTLE FOODS. (LINDSEY.) Coarse Feeds. 3 Concentrated Feeds. 5 Low in protein. Medium in Low in pro- Low in pro- High in pro High in carbohydrates. 50 to 65 per cent digestible. protein. tein. tein. tein. Medium in High in car- High in car- Medium in carbohy ible. ible. cent digestible. Let us suppose that we have at our disposal the following common feeding stuffs: Fodder corn, clover hay, and wheat bran, and that we want to know how much is required to keep a milch cow of 1000 lbs. live weight in good condition and to secure a maximum yield of milk. We will feed 14 lbs. of fodder corn, 6 lbs. of clover hay, and 10 lbs. of wheat bran. According to the table these quantities contain the following number of pounds of digestible matter : This ration falls somewhat short of the feeding standard in total organic matter and digestible substances. To bring it nearer to the standard, we add a couple of pounds of some concentrated feed. In selecting the foods and deciding the quantities to be given in each case, the market prices of the feeds must be considered. We will suppose that a lot of corn-meal is available in this case, and will add two pounds of this feed to the above ration. The ration now corresponds very well with the proposed American feeding ration; there is a small deficit of organic matter and of digestible fat; but there is no necessity of trying to follow any standard ration blindly, as they are only intended to be approximate gauges which the farmer may use in estimating the quantities of nutrients required by farm animals in order to do their best, cost and product both being considered. In constructing rations according to the above feeding standards, several points must be considered besides the chemical composition and the digestibility of the feeding stuffs; the standards cannot be followed directly without regard to bulk and other properties of the fodder; the ration must not be too bulky, and still must contain a sufficient quantity of roughage to keep up the rumination of the animals, in case of cows and sheep, and to secure a healthy condition of the animals generally. The local market prices of cattle foods are of the greatest importance in determining which foods to buy; the conditions in the different sections of our great continent differ so greatly in this respect that no generalizations can be made. Generally speaking, nitrogenous concentrated feeds are the cheapest feeds in the South and the East, and flour-mill, brewery, and starch-factory refuse feeds the cheapest in the Northwest. |