22 Bulletin 81 



The result is still low in total dry matter while giving plenty of nutri- 

 ents. The ration lacks slightly in bulk but not in food. To try and obtain 

 bulk with fodders on hand would result in feeding more than the standard 

 amounts of the nutrients. Bulk without much nutriment could be fur- 

 nished by straw, but, as a matter of fact, this is not very important. A 

 ration of 12.5 pounds hay, 25 pounds silage, 4 pounds bran, 3 pounds cotton- 

 seed meal and 2 pounds Buffalo gluten meal would meet the Wolff-Leh- 

 mann standard requirements for a 900 pound cow with a sufficient approx- 

 imation to accuracy. 



This is a very narrow ration, and, if ever adopted, should be used with 

 caution particularly at the outset. Three pounds of cottonseed meal is 

 heavy feeding, heavier than is often advisable. AVere half this replaced with 

 linseed the ration would be the safer and but a trifle poorer in protein. 



The longer and complete figuring is carried out as follows : The aver- 

 age analysis of mixed hay, so far as it pertains to the ingredients called for 

 in the determination of the standard, is as follows (Table II) : Dry mat- 

 ter 84. 7 per cent (100 — 15.3 per cent water), crude protein 7.4 percent, crude 

 fiber 27.2 per cent, nitrogen-free extract 42.1 per cent, ether extract 2.5 per 

 cent. The digestion coefficients for these ingredients are respectively (Table 

 III), .59, .60, .59 and .49. Multiplying each percentage by its digestion co- 

 efficients gives the digestible ingredients in 100 pounds (Table III), pro- 

 tein, 4.4 (7.4X.59) crude fiber, 16.3 (27.2x.60), nitrogen-free extract, 24.8 

 (42.1 x .59) ether extract, 1.2 (2.5 x .49). Adding the fiber and the nitrogen- 

 free extract and 2.25 times' the ether extract for " carbohydrates and ether 

 extract," we get 43.9. Ten pounds of hay being fed, each figure is multi- 

 plied by .10 (10 being 1-10 of 100) with results as follows : In 10 pounds 

 mixed hay, total dry matter 8.5 pounds, protein 0.44 pounds, carbohydrates 

 etc., 4.4 pounds. These are the figures given in the top line of the table on 

 page 21, which were read directly from the convenience table, (Table IV) 

 half-way down in the left hand side of page 52. The use of this table 

 obviates this tedious though simple calculation. 



4. PLANNING A SEASON' S FEEDING 



The farmer who plans his season's feeding ahead is naturally controlled 

 largely by the roughages he has on hand. His cattle are used essentially as 

 means of converting relatively unsaleable farm products into such as will 

 sell. The farm grown roughages will inevitably form the bulk of the diet 

 and the general tendency of feeders is to seek the largest profit from their 

 use rather than to provide a standard ration regardless of cost. 



Farm grown roughages and grains are not well adapted to form the sole 

 support of dairy cows. Hence the question arises at the outset whether sales 



i Ether extract x 2.25 added. See foot note page 20. 



