118 



From the analysis of a fodder and a knowledge of the dii^estion oo-efficicnts of 

 its ingredients, the digestible matter in a ton can be easil}' calculated. The following 

 is worked out for peas ; 



Percentage 

 Composition. 



Albuminoids 



Fat 



Fibre 



Carbo-hydrates . . . 



Total . 



Digestion Digestible 



Co-efficient Matter in ton of 

 divided by 100 „ OOO lbs 



X by 20. ^'""" ^'^^■ 



22-4 X -88 X 20 



30 X -58 X 20 



G-4 X -74 X 20 



526 X -97 X 20 



= 394-24 

 = 34-80 

 = 94-72 

 = 1020-44 

 1544-20 



Nutritive Ratio. 



The nutritive ratio of a fodder is the ratio existing between the amount of 

 digestible albuminoids (nitrogenous matter) on the one hand, and the amounts of 

 the digestible fat, tibre and carbo-hydrates (non-nitrogenous matter) taken togethei-, 

 on the other hand. 



Since, as has already been pointed out, the fat is considered 2^ times more 

 valuable than the other non-nitrogenous ingredients, the per cent, of fat found by 

 analysis is first multiplied by 2J before adding it to the bum of the fibre and carbo- 

 hydrates. 



The nutritive ratio serves as a ready means of comparing the relative values of 

 the dry matter of fodders. 



A propei'ly balanced food, i. e. one in which the several ingredients are present 

 in right proj^ortion. is necessary if economy in feeding and the health of the animal 

 are to be considered. 



According to the function of the animal fed — whether it be the production of 

 milk, flesh, wool or work, so there will be the requirement in the animal for differ- 

 ent proportions of digestible nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous ingredients in the food. 

 Thus by experiment it has been shown that a milking cow requires daily for every 

 1,000 lbs. of her live weight, 15J lbs. of digestible matter in which the nutritive ratio 

 is 1: 5'4. In the case of oxen at rest, there is required daily, for 1,000 lbs. of live 

 weight, 8f lbs. of digestible matter, in which the amount of albuminoids is to the 

 amount of the non-nitrogenous matter is as 1: 11-9, or, in other words, in which the 

 nutritive ratio is 1: 11'9. 



During the past year many analyses of food-stuffs have been made. These 

 fodders comprise samples of oil cake, cotton-seed meal, " germ " (Indian corn) moai, 

 corn ensilage, various grasses and other materials. Tlie i-osults of these analyses 

 are set down in tabular form, together with the amounts of the digestible ingredients 

 per ton and the nutritive ratio. 



