ECONOMY IN FEEDING LIVE STOCK 



145 



it in total digestible nutrients. Tho costing 1.75 cts. more than the first 

 ration, it will be more economical, for it should produce much better 

 results. The concentrate mixture weighs about 1.0 Ib. per quart, being 

 about the weight advised by many expert dairymen. 



It is explained elsewhere that the lower amounts of digestible crude 

 protein advised for the dairy cow in the Morrison feeding standards are 

 the amounts recommended in the Haecker standards, while the 

 higher figures are those advised by Savage. (182, 184, 186; Appendix 

 Table V) As has been stated before (186), for cows of pronounced dairy 

 temperament it may be advisable to feed as much protein as called for by 

 the higher figures, providing this does not greatly increase the cost of the 

 ration. Let us then see how cheaply a ration can be provided which 

 will supply 2.67 Ibs. of digestible crude protein, the higher figure advised 

 by the standard. The protein can be added most cheaply by substi- 

 tuting more cottonseed meal for corn. We find that by increasing the 

 cottonseed meal 1.0 Ib. and decreasing the corn the same amount, we 

 will about meet this figure, as shown in the following table: 



Third trial ration for 1,200-lb. cow producing 30 Ibs. of 3.5 per ct. milk 



This ration, which has a nutritive ratio of 1 : 6.1, costs 0.65 cent more 

 than the preceding ration. Whether this ration, higher in protein, will 

 produce enough more milk to pay for the increased cost will depend on 

 how pronounced is the dairy temperament of the particular cow getting 

 the ration. This concentrate mixture contains a fair variety of feeds, has 

 plenty of bulk, and would give excellent results. Some dairymen might 

 prefer to substitute 1 Ib. of linseed meal for 1 Ib. of cottonseed meal, thus 

 providing still greater variety. At the prices stated, this change would 

 not increase the cost, but would lower the protein a trifle. 



Reducing the amount of corn 0.75 Ib. would bring the total digestible 

 nutrients to 18.152 Ibs., about the lower figure recommended in the 

 standard, saving 0.82 cent. Except for cows of superior productive 

 capacity, this might be economical if concentrates were very expensive 

 compared with roughage. At the prices taken in this example, however, 

 corn furnishes total digestible nutrients cheaper than any other feed 

 except corn silage, and nearly rivals the latter in economy. Under such 

 conditions it will pay to be fairly liberal in the amount of grain fed. 

 (108, 646) 



