THE science; of feeding animals. 25 



potato specialists and each vying with the other in proclaiming 

 and proving the disease resistant merits of their special strains 

 or varieties of potatoes. In so doing they will not only add to 

 their already good reputation and to the profits from their busi- 

 ness, but they will be conferring a material benefit on potato 

 growers generally. 



THE SCIENCE OF FEEDING ANIMALS. 

 By. Prof. F. S. CooeEy, Amherst, Mass. 



IMPORTANCE. 



Of the four billions of dollars of our agricultural products in 

 America, not far from two-thirds are concerned in the feeding 

 of domestic live stock. The meat product alone is worth a bil- 

 lion a year ; the cow, $600,000,000 ; hay and dairy, $500,000,000 

 each. Here we have enumerated nearly three billions of prod- 

 ucts, the result of feeding or of the materials to feed ; and by 

 going more into detail, including minor products and the poultry 

 industry, we should realize that we had underestimated the 

 importance of feeding among the branches of husbandry. It 

 appears that the proper use of feeds is of even greater conse- 

 quence than their production. 



SOURCE OF FEEDING SCIENCE. 



Most of what may be termed the science of feeding has been 

 worked out during the last half century. Before that, experi- 

 ence was the only guide to successful practice. ' Sometimes, it is 

 true, there was the cumulative experience of the father and 

 grandfather, perhaps for several generations, to assist the feeder 

 in the perfect points of his art. This experience did not afford 

 the explanation of many circumstances deduced and results 

 observed, and erroneous views often resulted from the lack of 

 real scientific information upon the subject. 



With the advent of applied chemistry, however, agriculture 

 became better understood. It became possible to properly con- 

 nect cause and effect, and helped to place practices upon a sound 

 and rational basis. Animal feeding is particularly indebted to 

 chemistrv for the true explanation of many of its results. Ani- 



