1T2 Repoet of Farmers' Institutes 



although undue relative importance has been laid upon the nutri- 

 tive functions of protein. The great preponderance of the ordi- 

 nary farm crops are made up largely of carbohydrate materials 

 with a small percentage of protein. There is no crop that gives 

 a satisfactory yield which carries a high protein percentage. 

 The most important forage crop which today supplements the 

 protein supply of the farm is alfalfa, but the percentage of 

 nitrogen compounds present is not high. Peas carry a higher 

 percentage but the yield is unsatisfactory as a grain crop, al- 

 though used in the green state peas are a useful forage plant. 

 When the German feeding standards were launched in this 

 country, it was very evident that it would be difficult, if not im- 

 possible, to compound what was then called a balanced ration 

 from home raised feeding stuffs. Fanners were urged therefore 

 to invest in the protein feeding stuffs such as cottonseed meal, 

 linseed meal, gluten feed and so on. In this way protein came 

 into great prominence in public discussions, and the attention of 

 cattle feeders was focused upon that as a greatly important factor 

 in their feeding; but, as we see, chiefly for business reasons. 



This exaltation of protein still clings to our literature, and, to a 

 certain extent, to our commercial standards. This has been un- 

 fortunate, especially in relation to our so-called compounds foods. 

 The farmers have been told by those interested in the sale of pro- 

 prietary feeds that, because one feed combination carries 20 per 

 cent of protein, it is considerably more valuable than another 

 carrying only 15 per cent of protein — a statement which may 

 be either false or true. It is very important to consider not 

 only the percentage of protein, but the materials with which this 

 protein is associated. If, on the one hand, the protein feeds are 

 supplemented by such materials as corn meal, hominy feed, 

 wheat middlings and similar standard materials ; and, on theiother 

 hand, by mill screenings, oat hulls, and other highly indigestible 

 materials, it would be unfair and delusive to make a comparison 

 on the basis of the percentage of protein. 



Another way in which undue emphasis has been laid upon 

 protein is in determining the relative economy of two feeds by 

 charging up the total price of the feed to its protein content. It 

 has been taught, for instance, that if on this basis the protein of 



