Computing Rations for Farm Animals. 139 



" feeding standards, " which attempt to state what is general, 

 and under average collections, a good ration for the purpose in 

 view. While these standards cannot be considered as mathe- 

 meticall}^ exact, still large practical experience has demonstrated 

 their great value as aids to feeders. 



In Table /, under the title of Feeding Standards, are given the 

 approximate requirements of various classes of animals and under 

 varying conditions. These standards are mosth^ from German 

 sources, but they have been found very helpful to American 

 feeders. They are presented here as arranged by Armsby, in 

 Circular of Information No. i, " Computation of Rations for Farm 

 Animals, ' ' Penna. State College. The standards are for animals of 

 1,000 lbs. live weight, and may be increased or diminished for larger 

 or smaller animals, though it is probable that the individuality of the 

 animal, its power to assimilate and produce, will have more to do 

 with the varying of the ration than its weight. It is permissible, 

 perhaps, to depart from the amounts given in the first column under 

 the head of " Dry Matter," more than in any other way. The 

 digestive apparatus of farm animals is elastic and accommdates 

 itself quite readily to the var3'ing bulk of its food. In the last 

 column is given the nutritive ratio, which should, perhaps, be 

 adhered to with some care, trusting to the appetite of the ani- 

 mal (which will be controlled largely by its power of digesting 

 and producing) to indicate the amount of nutrients required. 

 As a rule the most rapid fattening or growth and abundant pro- 

 duction are most economical, and these results are best secured 

 by feeding an abundant and well balanced ration (well up to the 

 limit of the animal's appetite) while the dry matter is not per- 

 mitted to rise much above the standard. 



These standards presuppose comfortable stables for the animals 

 during cold weather. If the stables are not comfortable, make 

 them so if possible, but if the animals must be exposed to cold 

 either in doors or out it will be well to increase the amount of 

 carbohydrates in the rations. On the other hand if the stables 

 are so constructed that the temperature never falls below 32° F., 

 a ration even narrower than that given in the standards may be 

 fed to advantage. 



