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NUTRITION OF FARM ANIMALS 



To this we have to add sufficient grain to bring the ration up 

 to the requirement. The proper amount we must ascertain by 

 trial. We will take, at a venture, 4 pounds of corn meal and 

 2 pounds of wheat bran. Adding this to the ration we have : 



Comparing these totals with the requirement as computed, 

 we find that the ration is ample as regards energy, but consid- 

 erably low in digestible protein. The rather low figure for dry 

 matter shows that more feed may be added to the ration if 

 desirable, but the total for net energy makes it evident that what 

 is needed is not more feed, but feed of a different composition, 

 supplying more protein along with rather less energy. Gluten 

 meal answers this requirement, and substituting 2 pounds of 

 it for 2 pounds of corn meal gives a ration which, while still a 

 trifle high in energy, agrees as closely as necessary with the 

 computed requirements. Thus : 



This ration corresponds with the average requirement of the 

 whole herd, since it is based on its average performance. It 

 hardly need be said that it should be modified to suit the re- 

 quirements and capacities of the individual cows, the heavy 

 milkers getting more and the lighter ones less. 



