1906.] FEEDING FARM ANIMALS. 249 



than chemistry would assign to it on the basis of food constitu- 

 ents. Two factors at least must be considered in judging of 

 the value of a food in addition to the chemical constituents 

 which it contains. The first is palatability, and the second 

 is the influence exerted on the digestion. Thus, rye straw, 

 because of its low palatability, has a lower food value than 

 chemistry would assign to it. Animals will not eat it freely 

 unless impelled to do so by hunger. On the other hand, field 

 roots have a higher food value because they favorably influence 

 the digestion. 



The further fact is also significant, that in some instances, 

 foods may be fed at a greater profit when fed out of balance 

 rather than in balance. This is possible when one food is so 

 much cheaper than another opposite in character, that it may, 

 as it were, be fed in excess. I have fattened lambs at a greater 

 profit on a ration not in balance than on one in balance, because 

 of the relative cheapness of corn, a leading factor in the former. 

 In alfalfa areas, it also sometimes pays better to feed protein in 

 some excess than incur the cost of securing other foods to 

 balance the ration. 



In feeding animals for a prolonged period, a mixed diet 

 is superior to a ration composed of only one or two food 

 factors. This may, to some extent, be owing to some chemical 

 action which the foods exercise one upon the other in the pro- 

 cess of digestion. It is probable, however, that it is due more 

 to the influence exercised by the combined foods on the ap- 

 petite and to the more even balance that is thus likely to be 

 secured in the mixed diet. Animals, like individuals in the 

 human family, tire of one kind of food when fed continuously 

 upon it. To this there may be some few exceptions. They 

 tire more quickly of some food factors than others. Swine, 

 for instance, will consume corn for a longer period with a relish 

 than barley or rye, and horses will consume oats with avidity 

 for a longer period than any other kind of grain. 



These influences are more noticeable when the feeding is 

 forced, as when animals are ripening for the block. The ap- 

 petite under such feeding slackens, hence any judicious change 

 of diet that will lead them to consume more food will usually 

 be found helpful. 



Among the many influences which afifect the profits that 

 result from feeding, but three will be discussed here, viz : — 



