EXERCISE 87 



COMPUTING A BALANCED RATION 



Statement. The nutritive ratio required by young and rapidly growing animals is narrower than that 

 for grown animals. A dairy cow in full flow of milk needs a ration containing more protein than does 

 a steer that is being " roughed " through the winter. A ration with a nutritive ratio which is adjusted 

 to the needs of the animals to which it is being fed is said to be a balanced ration. One which does not 

 supply the nutrients in the proper proportion is said to be an unbalanced ration. The needs of all 

 classes of farm animals have been carefully studied and what constitutes a balanced ration for each 

 has been approximately determined. The nutritive ratio required by most of such classes is shown 

 in column five of Table II of the Appendix. 



Object. To learn how to compound a balanced ration for different classes of farm animals. 

 Materials. Paper ; pencil ; Table II, Appendix. 



Directions. Assume that weanling pigs are fed corn meal 20 pounds and skim milk 80 pounds. 

 C imputing the nutrients in this ration we have : 



This ration is properly balanced. In a like manner work out the following problems : 



1. Pigs weighing 100 pounds are being fed corn meal 80 parts, and wheat middlings 20 parts. Are 

 they receiving a balanced ration ? If not, what change would you make in the proportion of corn to 

 middlings to balance the ration? 



2. A cow giving milk is receiving a ration consisting of corn chop 6 pounds, cottonseed meal 2 pounds, 

 wheat bran 2 pounds, corn silage 30 pounds, and timothy hay 10 pounds daily. Is the ration balanced? 

 What changes would you make in the proportions ? What would be the effect of substituting alfalfa 

 for timothy ? 



3. A pen of laying hens weighing between 5 and 8 pounds each are being fed a ration of 3 pounds 

 cracked corn, 1 pound wheat, 1 pound corn meal, 1 pound oatmeal, 1 pound bran, and \ pound meat- 

 scrap. What is the nutritive ratio of this ration ? What is the proper ratio for hens of this size ? (See 

 Appendix, Table II.) Change the proportions so as to give the proper ratio. 



4. A calf is being wintered on timothy hay and corn stover. Is the ration balanced ? Show what the 

 effect of substituting half clover, alfalfa, or cowpea hay for timothy would have on the ration. 



5. Ascertain what rations are most commonly used in the neighborhood in feeding work horses ; 

 weanling colts ; calves ; dairy cows ; fattening steers ; wintering cattle ; pigs weighing 50 pounds, 100 

 pounds, and 200 pounds, respectively. Compute the nutritive ratio of those rations which are most 

 important to the neighborhood and ascertain how far they deviate from a balanced ration. Suggest 

 how their deficiencies may be corrected, using home-grown feeds whenever possible. 



References. Waters, H. J. Essentials of Agriculture, pp. 328, 392-393. Ginn and Company. Henry 

 and Morrison. Feeds and Feeding Abridged, pp. 106-116. The Henry Morrison Company. Plumb, C. S. 

 Beginnings in Animal Husbandry, pp. 274-288. The Webb Publishing Company. Harper, M. W. Animal 

 Husbandry for Schools, p. 65. The Macmillan Company. 



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