364 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



Much of what has been said applies mainly to the feed- 

 ing of animals at rest. Should performance be sought from 

 them as in the production of increase in meat or the pro- 

 duction of milk or labor, it will usually be necessary to add 

 concentrated food to make up for the deficiency in the 

 nutrients. 



It should also be borne in mind that a large proportion 

 relatively of the nutrients in straw and coarse fodders are 

 relatively low in digestibility. Because of this, it would be 

 easily possible so to tax the energies of the system by feed- 

 ing so large a proportion of such foods, that the most de- 

 sirable results would not follow. This, however, is much 

 less likely to occur with animals that are being simply car- 

 ried through the winter at rest. 



Blending foods chemically. The mechanical blend- 

 ing of foods discussed in the preceding section did not in 

 any sense consider the chemical blending of the same, and 

 yet the aim should be so to blend them, that the ration shall 

 be in at least approximate balance. For instance, when cut 

 hay is added to the cut straw of the small cereals, or to cut 

 corn or the sorghum stalks, the aim should be to add clover 

 or other leguminous hay, as the straw of these are carbo- 

 naceous. Likewise, when molasses is added, the aim should 

 be to make the addition when practicable to a mixture of 

 cut fodders relatively rich in protein, as, for instance, when 

 composed largely of pea straw. Field roots go well with 

 straws rich in carbohydrates especially when fed in con- 

 siderable quantities. Steamed potatoes and clover or alfalfa 

 also go well together when fed to growing swine. In the 

 absence of the clover or alfalfa, meal rich in protein should 

 be fed. When meal is added to enrich the ration for cattle, 

 sheep and horses, a due regard should always be had to the 

 character of the fodder. Usually it will be advantageous to 

 add meal rich in protein to mixtures composed mainly of 

 straw fodders or of corn or sorghum stalks. 



The proportions in which these shall be added cannot 

 be discussed here. The aim, of course, should be to feed 



