8 



need three and one-lialf times that amount. On the other hand, 

 oxen on the cart need but three-quarters more fat-making food than 

 oxen in the barn ; so that while a working animal requires one 

 pound of muscle-making food to every six pounds of fat-making 

 food, his idle brother can get along very well with a ration having 

 a nutritive ratio of one to twelve. Since there is this diiference in 

 the needs of working and idle animals, do you not think it would 

 pay to make a difference in what you feed the two, beside in mere 

 amount? 



Now compare the needs of a milch cow with those of a working 

 ox. You see they are nearly the same all the way through, and yet 

 the cow may be standing in the barn all day. Why should she need 

 as much muscle-making food as the great, brawny ox, straining in 

 the yoke ? I have told you the reason before : it is because milk- 

 making is accompanied by great activity of the vital organs of the 

 cow and also because milk itself is very rich in muscle-making food 

 In order to give a good pailful, the cow must have enough material 

 on hand to do the work. 



In Table I of Bulletin No. 154, you will learn what the animal 

 needs ; in Table II you will find what the different hays and grains 

 supply. I think you will have no difficulty in making up your ani- 

 mal rations from these two tables. 



Again he replies : 



Those " Feeding Standards " figure out well on paper, but I am 

 wondering how they will work in the stable. I have two horses : 

 Cherub, who is always plump and good natured, and Spider, who is 

 always lean and vicious. I call Cherub an easy keeper and Spider 

 a hard keeper ; for although both do the same amount of work and 

 get the same amount of feed, Cherub is fat and jolly while Spider 

 shows both ribs and temper. Some of my cows are the same way. 

 With such differences in animals, I do not see how you can show 

 your tables to be of much value. 



My Dear Sir : 



What you say about the differences in the producing power of 

 animals is very true. It would not do to lay down a general rule 



556 



