feeds. The cotton seed meal, as will be shown, is a very concentrated 

 food, while the amount of protein in corn, bran, and such substances is 

 very low. Protein is the most expensive component of a feeding stuff 

 and as has been stated, a considerable amount of it is absolutely indispen- 

 sibie to growth. 



Hay, ensilage, corn, and roots, raised on the farm form the basis, 

 and make up the bulk of the food for live stock, and supply all the starch, 

 sugars, and fat required. They are, however, deficient in digestible 

 protein, and if the quantity of digestible protein in a food is too small 

 the animals produce less beef or milk than they would with a proper sup- 

 ply of protein. Furthermore, when protein is deficient the other food 

 components (starch, fat, etc.) of the ration are in excess of the animal's 

 capacity for assimilating them, and are, therefore, to some extent wasted. 

 These, in part, pass out of the body, incompletely digested, and, unlike 

 protein, give little value to the manure. In purchasing by-products or 

 commercial feeds to supplement farm-grown crops, the keepers of live 

 stock should bear in mind that the value of the food depends to a large 

 extent on the quantity of digestible protein which it contains. 



The tables referred to will aid in the selection of food of highest 

 nutritive value. It must be remembered, however, that the tables give 

 the total amounts of nutrients found by chemical analysis in the different 

 feeding-stuffs, while only that portion of the food which is digested Is of 

 direct use to the animal. 



The processes of digestion in the case of ruminant animals are carried 

 on somewhat as follows : The food is taken into the mouth, where it 

 is masticated and mixed with saliva, a secretion of the glands of the 

 mouth. The saliva acts feebly upon the starch of the food converting 

 portions of it to sugar. The masticated food then passes through the 

 gullet to the stomach, where it is subjected to the action of the gastric 

 juice. From the stomach the undigested food passes through the pyloric 

 orifice into the intestines, where it is further acted upon by the pan- 

 creatic secretion, and portions of the starch, protein, and other compon- 

 ents of the food are dissolved or emulsified. The dissolved nutrients 

 are absorbed from the alimentary canal, an«i, in the form of chyle, pass 

 into the blood, and finally serve to nourish and sustain the body. This 

 portion is said to be digested and assimilated, and fro(m it alone the animal 

 is nourished. 



The digestibility of different foods, however, varies markedly; and, 

 moreover, the digestibility of the same food varies under different condi- 

 tions. But under average conditions the digestibilty of the commoner 

 foods has been roughly determined, and the practical feeder must make 

 a study of such data before the figures giving the composition of differ- 

 ent foods can be of much use to him. He should also investigate the 

 whole question of digestibility in an independent manner, so as to be pre- 

 pared to judge wisely in any given case. 



We give the results of our analysis, with brief comment thereon : 



