20 ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON STOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 



The ratio of lime to phosphoric acid is very low in the grains, 

 the oat hay and the wheat plant. Notice how high the ratio 

 is in the legumes (clovers, alfalfa and pea straw). What an 

 excellent combination the legumes and grasses make for the 

 grains and their by-products in furnishing the mineral con- 

 stituents so necessary for animal life. What a poor ration oat 

 hay, wheat hay or other of the cereal straws, and the grains would 

 make for supplying the needs of animals, because of the excess 

 of phosphoric acid to lime. 



Composition of Milk. It is especially essential that the young 

 animals receive adequate mineral constituents in order to get a 

 good start in life. If we examine the composition of milk of 

 various animals we learn that nature has provided for this. 1 



It seems that the more rapid the growth of the animal the 

 higher are the protein and ash contents. This is as it should be, 

 for a fast growing animal must have rigid bones to support the 

 body. 



Composition of the Ash of Animals. The following table 1 gives 

 the composition of the ash of a few fat animals in per cent. The 

 data is the work of Lawes and Gilbert. 



Bui. 201, Ohio Experiment Station. 



