5O FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



it should be the aim, nevertheless, to grow a sufficiency 

 of protein. The value of protein foods grown in the. 

 locality cannot usually be measured by the food which 

 they furnish. They generally add to the fertility of the 

 soil in the process of growth. In fact they always do if 

 of the legume class. The fertility which they bring to the 

 land in some instances, goes far to equal the value of the 

 food nutrients which they furnish. It would probably 

 be correct to say that the adaptation is such in nearly all 

 localities, that a sufficiency of both protein and carbohy- 

 drate plants may be grown to make it possible to feed 

 them in balance without the necessity of purchasing from 

 an outside source On the other hand such purchase 

 would not only be justifiable but would also be com- 

 mendable, when relative values will justify the same. 



Nor does it always follow that such unbalanced feeding 

 will be the most profitable in the end though it may be 

 the cheaper in the meantime. Suppose, when growing 

 an animal for breeding purposes, for labor, or for milk 

 giving of a high order, that during the growing period it 

 is fed food in excess that is highly carbonaceous, as corn, 

 the usefulness of the animal for either purpose would be 

 materially lessened. Its size would be less than normal. 

 Its bone would not be of the best and the habit in diges- 

 tion of using the food materials for building and main- 

 taining the body would be so fixed that the milk giving 

 capacity would be lessened. In such instances it would 

 be better to purchase some protein to help at least to 

 balance the ration, unless the cost of the same was ex- 

 cessive. When, however, the question is one of finishing 

 an animal which is to be sent to the block after a few 

 months of feeding, there need be no hesitancy in feeding 

 foods out of balance even for prolonged periods, where 

 the lacking element or elements are present in such 

 quantity as to prevent any loss further than is entailed 

 in the waste of the food fed in excess, when values 



