It is generally best to feed dairy cows at least three grains. 

 Variety makes the ration more appetizing and also gives a better 

 chance of securing a well balanced ration. Bran and middlings 

 contain about the same .amount of animal food, but since bran is 

 cheaper it is more desirable for this man. The mangels will make 

 this a better ration in some respects than any of the preceding, 

 because they add succulence to the ration. 



The tables in Bulletin 15^1: tells us that bran is the only feed-stufc 

 mentioned by this farmer which has a nutritive ratio of less than 

 1.6, the usual limit of a successful ration for milch cows. It would 

 be difficult to make a balanced ration from these materials without 

 using a large amount of bran in order to supply enough protein to 

 make up for what is lacking in the hay and mangels. Unlike 

 cottonseed meal and linseed meal, large amounts of bran are not 

 likely to injure the health of the animal. But it is- too bulky to be 

 fed at the rate of 9 or 10 lbs. a day, and the ration would also lack 

 variety. It will be far better and cheaper for this man to buy 

 anotlier feed which is rich in protein, as gluten meal. (Bull. 154, 

 p. 149.) Gluten meal should never be fed in amounts over 4 lbs. a 

 day, and even that is more than some cows ought to have. It can 

 usually be bought at about the same price as middlings, and its feed- 

 ing value is much greater. The ration we suggest is this : 



Tins is a well balanced ration, with a nutritive ratio of 1 : 5.7. 

 We have used a larger proportion of coarse fodder and less of grain 

 than in the other rations, because this man must buy. 



567 



