23 



HOME-MIXING OF RATIONS. 



In the making of rations, aside from the desire to secure variety and pal- 

 atabiUty, the feeder or manufacturer mixes feeding stuffs which will increase 

 either the protein or carbohydrates (starchy matter) in the ration. In other 

 words, feeding stuffs fall naturally into two groups, - — protein or carbo- 

 hydrate, — and the unmixed by-products and prepared feeds in our classifica- 

 tion are so subdivided. 



If the feeder has some knowledge of the chemical composition of feeding 

 stuffs and the requirements of his animals, he will mix feeds of such kinds 

 and in such proportions as to give the best results for the purpose intended. 

 Such a mixture is called a balanced ration. 



The number of unmixed products which have given general satisfaction 

 in home-mixed rations is limited. New or little-known products which may 

 be found on the market from time to time should be tried at first experi- 

 mentally until the feeder is thoroughly familiar with them and can adapt 

 their use to his own conditions. 



To many the preparation of home-mixed rations app)ears so formidable 

 that the feeder either relies upon ready-mixed preparations or upon the hit- 

 or-miss method of mixing indiscriminately whatever his retailer may have in 

 stock. The feeds upon which the average feeder must depend are compara- 

 tively few in number, and consist of cottonseed meal, linseed meal, gluten 

 feed, wheat bran, wheat mixed feed, wheat middlings, corn meal, ground 

 oats, ground barley and hominy feed. Many other products are found, but 

 as a rule are not generally distributed. If the feeder will mix three or more 

 of the above feeds in such proportions as to secure a mixture containing 20 

 to 22 per cent protein, providing two by-products are not derived from the 

 same seed or grain, he will secure fully as good a ration as the average ready- 

 mixed product, and usually at a saving in cost. He will also have the addi- 

 tional satisfaction of knoWing just what he is using. 



In such a mixture linseed and cottonseed may be considered as one group ; 

 wheat bran and wheat mixed feed another group; and corn meal, ground 

 oats, ground barley and hominy feed still another. The feeds in each group 

 can then be substituted one for the other, depending upon price. Of the 

 feeds not as often found, gluten meal may replace either cottonseed or linseed 

 meals; coconut oil meal may replace gluten feed; and rye feed or rye mid- 

 dlings may be used in place of part of the wheat products. It is not claimed 

 that the feeding stuffs given an equal substitution value have identical nutri- 



