STANDARDIZATION OF RATIONS 171 



horse is a very simple matter. Each animal receives a certain amount of 

 hay and oats mixed with chaffed straw, as explained on pages 61, 66 

 and 85, If it is desired to substitute some other feeding stuff for the 

 oats, proceed according to outlines on page 83. 



The standardization of rations for cattle, which receive their feed in 

 courses, so to speak, and for swine, usually meets with more difficulties.' 

 The difficulties arise in providing the various nutrients in sufficient quan- 

 tity and proper proportion and at the same time avoiding all waste. The 

 following procedure is suggested : 



In the first place the products of the farm should constitute the basal 

 portion of the ration. These should be distributed in an appropriate 

 manner among all the animals of the farm, taking due consideration of 

 the seasons. The basal feed, if at all possible and practicable, should 

 consist of a not too moderate amount of good hay. Although the nutri- 

 ents contained in such hay may frequently be obtained at less expense 

 from other sources or in different form, nevertheless a minimum of 5 

 pounds of hay per 1,000 pounds live weight is desirable from a dietetic 

 point of view. The common present-day practice of furnishing the nec- 

 essary nutrients chiefly in the form of concentrates and providing the 

 necessary bulk exclusively in the form of straw may under certain con- 

 ditions have pecuniary advantages, but not infrequently this is at the 

 expense of the health or well-being of the animal. For example, this 

 method of feeding tends to deplete the organism of its lime salts, espe- 

 cially in heavy milkers, unless this mineral is artificially supplied. Too 

 frequently this not done. 



The five-pound hay ration referred to. together with the concentrates, 

 root crops and industrial by-products, is not sufficient to furnish the en- 

 tire necessary bulk of the ration for herbivora. The dry matter in the 

 daily ration should be about 25 pounds per 1.000 pound? live weight. 

 The combination referred to — hay. concentrates, root crops, if available, 

 and the industrial bv-nroducts — contains onlv about 13 pounds of dry 

 matter, so that the difference, about 12 pounds, may be provided in the 

 form of straw or chaff, \\niile the supplv of the extra 12 pounds of dry 

 matter in the form of straw is entirelv appropriate for the purpose, an 

 excess over this amount per 1.000 pounds live weight, in view of the hieh 

 enere%' requirement for the digestion of this character of feed, would be 

 quite irrational. 



Tn addition to the hay and straw portion of the ration Cor chaff sub- 

 stituted for the straw V cattle should receive feeding stuffs rich in car- 

 bohydrates, like beets, potatoes, slops and shredded root crops or pulp. 

 The character and amount of these substances must be gauged according 

 to existing conditions. Milk cows, for example, should have from 20 to 

 30 pounds of potatoes or 30 to 50 pounds of beets, or corresponding 

 amounts of similar feeding stuff, per 1.000 pounds live weight. 



After the character and amount of the roughage is determined, such 



