The Bulletin. 9 



FATS. 



Fats, or more properly termed ether extract, iiicliifle all the sub- 

 stances soluble in dry ether. These substances include the pure fats, 

 such as cotton-seed oil, linseed oil, etc., and the waxes, resins, 

 chlorophyl, etc. In most feeds the waxes and resins are present in 

 such small amount that the entire ether extract may be regarded as 

 fat. In a few feeds, such as alfalfa products, the ether extracts the 

 chlorophyl or green coloring matter of the plants. This amounts to 

 only a small per cent. 



CRUDE FIBER. 



The term crude fiber includes the woody parts or the structural 

 materials of plants. It is composed largely of cellulose and is the 

 most indigestible part of the feed. As a rule, a feed with a* high 

 percentage of fiber is considered to be a low-grade feed. 



MOISTURE. 



Water is present to some extent in all classes of feed. Hays and 

 commercial feeds usually contain from 6 to 15 per cent of water. 



ASH. 



Ash is the inorganic or mineral matter of plants. It is composed 

 principally of soda, potash, lime and mag-nesia, combined in the form 

 of phosphates, sulphates, chlorides and carbonates. The constituents 

 of the ash furnish the material for the bony structure of animals 

 and is used only to a small extent in the tissues and organs. 



MTROGEN-FREE EXTRACT. 



The term nitrogen-free extract includes the non -nitrogenous con- 

 stituents of feeds. The principal classes of substances included in 

 this term are the sugars, starch, organic acids, pentosans, etc. In 

 the ordinary feed analysis the nitrogen-free extract is determined by 

 difference ; the sum of the percentages of protein, fats, fiber, moisture 

 and ash is subtracted from 100, and the remainder considered as 

 nitrogen-free extract. 



CARBOHYDRATES. 



The term carbohydrates includes the nitrogen-free extract and the 

 crude fiber. In publishing the analyses the nitrogen-free extract and 

 the crude fiber are reported separately. To get the per cent of 

 carbohydrates in a feed it is only necessary to add the percentages of 

 these two constituents. 



The percentage of carbohydrates as stated in the manufacturer's 

 guarantee should be, as above stated, the sum of the per cent of 

 nitrogen-free extract and the per cent of crude fiber. 



