162 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 



in character, though supplying the requisite nutrients, 

 causes an uneasy and unsatisfied feeling, and it is evi- 

 dent that bulk should be different for the cow than for 

 the horse or pig. For milch cows it may consist, in 

 large measure, of straw, which is partially digestible, 

 and usually palatable; while for the horse or pig an 

 abundance of straw would serve a less useful purpose, 

 because of the smaller size and different formation of 

 the stomach, and because in the latter the food is not 

 re-masticated, as is the case with the cow. 



Palatability is also an important feature, since the 

 amount of animal product secured is largely dependent 

 upon the amount of food the animal can be made to 

 consume over an^ above that necessary to maintain life. 

 Too much indigestible matter must also be avoided ; since 

 it is liable to disarrange the system, because of the 

 extra work required to properly dispose of it. 



To insure the minimum waste of nutritious matter, 

 such coarse products as corn-stalks and straw, which in 

 their original state are not readily and completely eaten 

 by animals, must be cut, the coarser and finer portions 

 intimately mixed, and feeds of known relish added. 



The following examples show how various fodders and 

 feeds may be combined in order to secure such propor- 

 tions of the digestible food compounds as experiments 

 and experience have taught us are well adapted to the 

 purposes indicated, while at the same time possessing 

 the features discussed in reference to bulk and palata- 

 bility. The tables in the Appendix furnish the data 

 necessary for the calculation of digestibility and nutri- 

 tive ratio : 



