Proceedings of Seventeenth I^ormal Institute 173 



cottonseed meal costs four cents a pound, it is more economical 

 to purchase it than some feeding stuif carrying less protein, where 

 the pound cost of the protein is five cents. This method of 

 charging up the full cost of the feeding stuff against the protein 

 ignores whatever value the other ingredients of the feeding stuff 

 may have. Now, if the home raised crops have no value to the 

 farmer — that is, if he has no market for them and has a plentiful 

 supply, — then any saving from the purchase of carbohydrate 

 material in gluten feed would be of no advantage to him. But, 

 if he can sell his hay, his oats, or his corn, it is irrational to 

 assume that he is justified in ignoring the value of carbohydrates 

 or fats in the feeds which he purchases. 



I, therefore, conclude that imdue commercial emphasis has 

 been laid upon protein in two particulars : First, in measuring the 

 value of compounded feeds, or of any feeds, solely by the per- 

 centage of protein present ; and second, in computing the economy 

 of the purchase of feeds by charging up the entire ton price of 

 the feed against the protein present. 



2. Views of Dr. E. S. Savage 



In expressing his views on this subject the writer assumes that 

 the question under discussion is the amount of protein to be pur- 

 chased in the concentrates. No one questions the importance of 

 growing all the legume roughage that it is possible to grow. The 

 nitrogen and protein that is gained in this way is partly gained 

 from the air at no cost whatsoever; therefore every bit that the 

 farmer can get adds so much to the permanent value of his farm. 



In addition to the roughage the farmer may perhaps grow some 

 grain. Then the question comes to the dairy farmer, What 

 feeds shall I purchase to supplement the roughage and concen- 

 trates I already have on hand? The answer is, buy concentrates 

 that will yield total digestible nutrients the cheapest, and which 

 will so adjust the ration that the nutritive ratio of the entire 

 ration shall be not wider than 1 :6. 



The writer bases this answer on these facts: 



1. Total digestible nutrients cost no more in high protein foods 

 than in low protein foods. 



2. In addition to 1, if the relative manurial values are given 



