96 Feeds and Feeding. 



bination of feeding stuffs that will develop the normal framework 

 of bone, muscle, and all body organs. This is accomplished thru 

 an ample supply of feeding stuffs reasonably rich in crude protein 

 and mineral matter. Having developed the proper framework 

 of bone, together with the enveloping muscular system and all the 

 organs of the body, the food supply may then consist largely of car- 

 bohydrates and fat, which are the cheap and abundant sources of 

 animal fat. 



In America corn is the common feeding stuff for swine, and pigs 

 show such fondness for it that harm often results because the prac- 

 tice of the feeder and breeder is guided by the appetite of the ani- 

 mal rather than by a knowledge of the composition and limitations 

 of feeds. Let us not despise corn because, when wrongly and ex- 

 cessively used as it purposely was in these experiments with young, 

 growing pigs, it fails to develop the normal framework of bone 

 and muscle. Each feed has its function in the nutrition of animals, 

 and only by its abuse can unfavorable results follow. 



118. Feeding concentrates only. In 1874 a Mr. Miller 1 of New 

 York reported that for several years he had successfully maintained 

 dry dairy cows in winter for a period of about 8 weeks by giving 

 to each animal as its sole feed not above 3 quarts of finely-ground 

 corn meal daily. It was his practice to cut off the hay supply when 

 meal feeding began. At first the cows were restless, but soon 

 quieted down, all rumination or chewing of the cud ceasing and 

 only a small quantity of water being drunk. He further claimed 

 that the animals remained in fair flesh and that the calves from 

 cows so maintained were strong and healthy. In the spring on 

 changing back to normal feeding a limited amount of hay was at 

 first given, and the supply gradually increased. 



A committee of the American Dairyman's Association, on visit- 

 ing Mr. Miller's stables, reported that cows weighing about 900 

 Ibs. each had been fed exclusively on corn meal for 7 weeks pre- 

 vious to the time of inspection, each animal receiving on the aver- 

 age 3 quarts of meal daily. They stated that the cows did not 

 ruminate, were quiet, and evinced no inordinate desire for food 

 when hay was shown them. They were much more quiet than 

 cows fed meal and 4 or 5 Ibs. of hay daily. The committee saw no 

 signs of suffering or unrest. On a second visit 13 days after hay 

 feeding had been resumed in the spring the cows were filled up 



1 Ept. Am. Dym'ns Assn. 1874; Meal Feeding and Animal Digestion, 2d ed., 

 Linus W. Miller (out of print) ; Armsby, Manual of Cattle Feeding. 



