1 1 86 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



In milk, the food naturally provided for the young, we find 

 just this combination, as it is rich in albuminoids and fats, and 

 the carbohydrate it contains, sugar, is exceedingly digestible. 

 Skimmed milk fed in connection with old process linseed cake, 

 to make up for the fat removed, fed in connection with young 

 grass or clover hay, makes a ration which is scientifically cor- 

 rect and practically successful. 



If the albuminoids are deficient in the diet of a young 

 animal, it will be apt to cause it to lay on fat prematurely. 

 When the natural work of developing bone and muscle is thus 

 changed into one of fat production its health is impaired, it 

 becomes stunted and " pot-bellied," and never will attain its 

 proper size. 



Ratio for Milk. The cow can manufacture milk only out 

 of the food given her. If this food is in sufficient quantity, 

 and contains all the elements contained in the milk, the cow, if 

 naturally fitted for milk production, can yield milk, liberally, but 

 no care in breeding or perfection of pedigree will enable her to 

 put into the pail material which she does not find in the food. 

 The average composition of cow's milk is as follows : 



Water, 870 



Albuminoids, ... .... 40 



Fat, 37 



Sugar, 46 



Ash, 7 



1,000 



The albuminoids in the milk must be formed from the albu- 

 minoids in the food ; the fat and sugar from cither albuminoids, 

 carbohydrates, or fat, usually the two latter. The ash is chiefly 

 phosphoric acid. 



The great requirement, therefore, in a diet for milk produc- 

 tion is a sufficiency of albuminoids. The ratio should be :.bout 

 1:5. Good young meadow grass has a ratio of about 1:4. 

 This explains why cows do so well on the early pasture. Later 

 in the season the albuminoid ratio of grass falls, and old stemmy 

 grass in July often has a ratio of less than 1 : 10. Every 

 farmer is familiar with the fact that cows on pasture usually 



