104 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



much carbohydrates as there is protein in the ration. 

 In other words, for every six pounds of carbohydrates 

 there should be at least one pound of protein. For 

 young and growing animals it should be considerably 

 more than that. 



As has been stated, fat is usually put in a class by 

 itself, and not grouped with the carbohydrates as it is 

 in this book. This is one reason : One pound of fat 

 will produce about 2*4 times as much heat and energy 

 as one pound of carbohydrates, so that one pound of 

 fat is equal to 2% pounds of carbohydrates in feeding 

 value. If we have I Ib. of fat, 334 Ibs. of carbo- 

 hydrates and i Ib. of protein in a given ration, we have 

 a ratio of 6 to i. In the following table the fat has 

 already been added to the carbohydrates, so that, in 

 order to find the nutritive ratio, it will only be neces- 

 sary for you to use the following rule: Divide the 

 total amount of carbohydrates in the ration by the total 

 amount of protein. 



If the result is greater than 6, more protein should 

 be added. This ratio is generally considered the best 

 for all animals except those that are fattening, when a 

 larger amount of cheaper carbohydrates can be fed 

 with profit. Full grown animals can get along very 

 well on a much smaller proportion of protein, while 

 young, growing animals require a larger proportion 

 than this, because protein is a bone and muscle builder. 



Economy in Feeding. The great problem of eco- 

 nomical feeding is to find those foods that will pro- 

 duce the desired results with the least possible expense. 



