CATTLE FOODS. 39 



F. PROPER COMBINATIONS OF COARSE AND CONCENTRATED 



FEEDS. 



Having considered in detail the relative value of coarse 

 and concentrated feeds, it will be wise in closing to say a few 

 words relative to the proper combinations to be made in order 

 to secure reasonably correct amounts of protein, fat and carbo- 

 hydrates, or to produce what is called a balanced ration. 



During the six or seven winter months, the hay farmer will 

 feed twenty to twenty-five pounds of ensilage daily and all the 

 hay the animals will eat. As a grain ration to go with the 

 above I would feed five or six pounds of a mixture of one-third 

 corn or hominy meal, and two-thirds gluten, cotton or linseed 

 meal. A mixture of the same quantity of two-thirds gluten 

 feed and one-third cotton seed meal would also be quite suita- 

 ble. Believing that bran as a diluter for the more concentrated 

 feeds is relatively expensive, I would put my grains upon the 

 ensilage, allowing the latter to do the mechanical work of the 

 bran. During the winter months the corn farmer can feed forty 

 pounds of ensilage and seven to ten pounds of hay per day, in 

 addition to six pounds of gluten feed, or two pounds of cotton 

 or linseed meal and four pounds of gluten feed. The grain can 

 be spread upon the ensilage as already stated. 



Many other grain combinations might be suggested 

 depending upon the cost and variety of materials to be had in 

 local markets. A few words of suggestion from your experi- 

 ment station from time to time will be valuable. 



Suitable summer feeds, and feed combinations, have already 

 been discussed. Pasture grass of itself is a perfectly balanced 

 ration for the dairy cow. Oats and peas, millet and peas, corn 

 and beans, and clover, also furnish considerable amounts of 

 protein, and as a rule are sufficient without any large quantity 

 of grain. 



I have thus attempted to bring to your attention the groups 

 of substances composing the various cattle feeds, the most 

 economical coarse and concentrated feed stuffs to be fed, the 

 amount the dairy cow needs of the several nutriments in order 

 to enable her to do her best work, and how to combine the sev- 

 eral feed stuffs in order to secure that end. 



