i6o 



THE BUSINESS OF DAIRYING 



that too little attention is given to this part of their 

 business. The total nutrients supplied are generally 

 sufficient, but the rations frequently contain an ex- 

 cess of the heat and fat-forming elements, i.e., car- 

 bohydrates and fat, and too little protein, the nutri- 

 ent very essential in the production of milk. As no 

 other food compound can take the place of protein 

 and perform its functions, its deficiency must neces- 

 sarily result in decreasing the milk production. The 

 food-stuffs which are ordinarily grown on the farm 

 are poor in protein, which doubtless accounts in 

 part for the deficiency of this compound in farm- 

 ers' rations. If a farmer can afford to produce milk 

 at all, he will generally find it profitable to buy 

 feeds containing a high percentage of protein, in 

 order in the preparation of rations to properly bal- 

 ance the home-grown products. 



An experiment was conducted to show the ad- 

 vantages of good feeding in the production of milk 



