CHAPTER XX 



HOW TO CALCULATE A RATION 



The method of calculating a ration is very simple, and 

 can easily be put in practice by anyone who knows how to 

 add, multiply, and subtract. There is nothing complicated 

 about it. The fact that many farmers with only common 

 school training figure out the rations for their stock, is evi- 

 dence enough to support this statement. Many men feeding 

 dairy cows study carefully the composition and cost of feeds, 

 and then figure out the best rations available, that will 

 agree as nearly as possible with the standard. 



The first step in calculating a ration is to find out the 

 amounts of dry matter, protein, carbohydrates, and fat in 

 the ration one is feeding, or is planning to feed. In 

 this chapter, only the most common feeds used over 

 much of the United States will be considered. We will 

 figure out the ration for a dairy cow weighing 1000 

 pounds and making about 22 pounds of milk a day. Let us 

 plan to feed this cow a daily ration say of 10 pounds red 

 clover hay, 30 pounds corn silage, 5 pounds corn-and-cob 

 meal, and 3 pounds bran. To use a good system in the 

 starting of the work, we will arrange the different parts in 

 proper order for study, which is as follows : 



Ration for 1000 pound dairy cow producing 22 pounds of milk a day. 



