11 Sept., 1916.] Food Values and Rations. 51T 



during the past drought in two herds under observation, when the whole 

 of the food consumed was hand-fed. 



In a cold district a slightly increased amount would be necessary. 



15 lbs. of good cereal hay contain the above amount, and for general 

 application may be regarded as sufficient for maintenance. 



The maintenance or basal part of the ratio should be supplied as 

 hay, green fodder, or silage, and that required for milk production as 

 concentrates. 



A guide to the amount of food required for milk secretion may be 

 obtained from a scrutiny of the composition of average milk. 



Average Composition or 4 per cent. Milk. 



Protein. Carbohydrate. Fat. iTfndTll^'stTg'a?' 



3'4 "y 4'7 "y 4 ^ 14'7 



•034 1b. •0471b. '04 lb. •1471b. Nutritive ratio, 1 : 4 



The nutrients of the food are transformed into the nutrients of milk, 

 and since the protein of the milk can only result from the protein of 

 the food, .034 lb. of vegetable protein is essential for each lb. of milk 

 secreted. But owing to variations in composition of foods and for other 

 reasons outside the scope of this article, the minimum in general practice 

 should not-be less than .045 lbs. protein and .15 lbs. carbohydrate (the 

 fat or ether extract is reduced to its carbohydrate equivalent) for each 

 lb. of milk in addition to the allowance for maintenance. A simpler 

 method suitable for general practice is to allow 1 lb. of mixed concen- 

 trate made from some of the following — bran, poUy feed, oats, linseed 

 meal, pollard, coconut oil cake — for each 2J lbs. to 3 lbs. of milk, 

 according to quality of milk : — 



Suitable Propoetions fob Mixture. 



Bran . . 300 Crushed oats . . 250 Bran . . 300 



Polly feed . . 200 Bran . . 250 Polly feed . . 200 



Oil meal . . 75 Oil meal . . 75 Pollard . . 150 



When the paddock feed is insufficient for milking cows, though 

 perhaps sufficient to keep dry ones in good condition, it is inadvisable to 

 fill the milkers with chaff or hay. Concentrates are wanted. The oft- 

 repeated saying " that hay causes the cows to dry off " is not due to any 

 principle in the hay producing this effect, but is due to the fact that 

 hay or chaff alone does not contain sufficient nourishment to supply the 

 heavy demand made by the milking cow. A cow yielding 4 gallons of 

 milk daily uses about 35 per cent, of the nutrients in her food for 

 maintenance, the remaining 65 per cent, are utilized in milk production, 

 whilst of the protein alone only 20 per cent, goes for maintenance and 

 80 per cent, for milk. It is hoped that whilst prices remain as at present 

 dairy-farmers will take the opportunity of getting the most out of the 

 cows by the general use of concentrates. It pays to gi^^e the best to good 

 cows; to the other kind it does not pay to give anything. At current 

 rates (August), 1 lb. of bran or polly feed costs 6d., and the samo 

 amount of oil meal 1.2d., whilst 2J lbs. of 4 per cent, milk is worth 2d. 

 for separation and 3.3d. for town milk supply. 



The following rations were used by various dairymen during June, 

 July, and August. The nutritive contents, based on the average composi- 

 tion of local foolstuffs, are given in detail to illustrate the relative values 



