66 



Now if this animal were fed daily as much of an extra quality 

 of hay as she would consume (28 to 30) pounds, she would receive: 



Such a ration is deficient both in total digestible nutrients 

 as well as in digestible protein. If 7 pounds of the hay were re- 

 placed by an equal amount of corn meal, the hay and corn meal 

 would furnish: 



Digestible Protein Fat Carbohydrates Total Nutritive Ratio 



Pounds, 1.4 .47 14.35 16.22 1 to 11 



The corn meal being very digestible, but a one-sided or starchy 

 feed, would sufficiently increase the total digestible nutrients, 

 but not the protein. If 4 pounds of corn meal were replaced by 

 2 pounds of bran and two pounds of cottonseed meal, the several 

 feeds would supply: 



Digestible Protein Fat Carbohydrates Total Nutritive Ratio 



Pounds, 2.07 .60 13.20 15.87 1 to 6.4 



The replacing of 7 pounds of hay with 3 pounds of corn meal 

 rich in digestible matter and with 2 pounds each of bran and cot- 

 tonseed meal especially rich in digestible protein, furnishes a ration 

 containing less fiber and more starchy matter and protein than is 

 contained in the hay. Such a ration contains the requisite amount 

 of both total digestible matter and digestible protein, and may be 

 said to be properly balanced* 



6. Types of Balanced Rations. 

 Because of the high prices usually prevailing for all concen- 

 trated feeds, dairymen are frequently in doubt as to the kinds to 

 be selected and the amount to be fed in order to secure the best 

 returns for the money invested. Farmers selling cream to the 

 creamery, or located where there is not a quick demand for milk, 

 probably will not find it economical to feed over 3 to 5 pounds of 

 purchased grain daily, and will use maximum amounts of home- 

 grown hay and silage (1 bushel of silage and what- hay the animal 

 will eat clean). If the silage is well eared, \\ pounds each of 

 cottonseed meal and flour middlings, sprinkled over the silage 

 to distribute it, will produce a fairly well-balanced ration, and 

 prove helpful in maintaining the milk flow. If corn meal is a 

 home product rather than silage, mix by weight 1-4 bran, 1-2 corn 



♦Instead of expressing the nutrients needed by different animals in the forms of protein, 

 fat and carbohydrates, it is believed we shall soon be using the terms protein and therms of 

 net energy. Thus a cow of 1000 pounds producing 20 pounds of milk daily, will require 2 

 pounds of protein and 12 therms of energy. A circular on this subject may be published be- 

 fore long. 



