EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



23? 



protein the cheapest. Linseed meal, gluten meal and malt sprouts fol- 

 low, all supplying the protein at about the same price. As far, there- 

 fore, as these feeding stuffs can be substituted for oats, the latter had 

 better be sold and these or some of them bought, since the protein in 

 the oats is valued, under the market conditions assumed, at |.108. per 

 Ijound. 



We are now ready to take up the calculation of the ration. It is put 

 in tabular form, thus: 



Nutritive ratio 1 : 6.64. 



Here we haye a ration conforming yery closely to the standard and 

 costing but $.135. Although the standard ration calls for but 23.57 

 lbs. of dry matter, experience has shown that a good dairy cow weigh- 

 ing half a ton and yielding a pound or more of fat per day will eat fully 

 20 lbs. of dry matter. It is possible to construct from the materials 

 given a great variety of rations, putting 5 lbs. of timothy hay in the 

 place of the 3 lbs. of cornmeal, for instance, thus making a cheaper 

 but far less efficient ration. Or wheat bran may be substituted for the 

 cotton seed meal and the cornmeal, making a more expensive ration 

 but one possibly as efficient. 



The ingenuity of the farmer may construct a great variety of rations 

 which will comply with all the requirements of the standard but the cow 

 must be the final judge as to their utility and efficiency. It should be 

 the aim to construct the ration of the cheapest materials possible and 

 yet have it conform in essential particulars to the standard ration. The 

 grain feed sliould furnish at least four-tenths of the nutrients in order 

 to economize tlie digestive work of the cow. The experience of the 

 feeder must guide him as to the profitable quantity and the proper 

 admixture of the constituent factors. 



