308 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



page 301 to be needed by cattle of this age. A ration like the above 

 might produce fair gains, but it would fail to take full advantage of 

 the capacity of such cattle, for growth and the gain would most 

 likely fall below that which was anticipated. An increase in the 

 protein could be expected to make the ration more efficient. One 

 way of accomplishing this which naturally suggests itself is to feed 

 more clover hay, since it is richer in protein than the meal. This 

 would make the ration more bulky, and the rather low total for dry 

 matter indicates that a moderate increase in this direction is prac- 

 ticable. In the early stages of fattening in particular, at a time 

 when we may suppose that the call for protein is greater than at 

 subsequent periods, a freer use of clover hay would usually be prac- 

 ticable, as well as desirable on the score of economy. Even if we 

 suppose the proportion of hay and grain reversed, however, and the 

 ration to consist for a time of 16 pounds of hay and 8 pounds of 

 meal the digestible protein is after all only slightly increased. 



Pounds. 



16 pounds of clover hay contain of digestible protein 0.86 



8 pounds of corn-and-cob meal contain of digestible protein . . .36 



Total digestible protein 1.22 



To make any marked change in the ration in this respect, it is 

 evident that there must be introduced into it some feed much richer 

 in protein than either of those composing it. On consulting the 

 table it is evident that what is needed is one of the by-product feeds 

 like gluten feed or meal, the oil meals, etc., and also that only a 

 small amount of one of these will be needed to effect a marked 

 change in the ration. Thus, if there be substituted 2 pounds of old- 

 process linseed meal for 2 pounds of the corn-and-cob meal, the ra- 

 tion will foot up as follows : 



Thus at a comparatively small additional expense it is possible 

 to improve the ration materially by adding the lacking protein, and 

 there is little doubt that the improved ration would produce a more 

 rapid gain and, under ordinary conditions, a more profitable one as 

 well, either by increasing the total gain or shortening the feeding 

 period. 



Computing a Ration From Given Feeding Stuffs. There are 

 available for a dairy herd field-cured corn forage (including the 

 ears), clover hay, corn meal, wheat bran, and gluten feed. The 

 table herein shows that these feeding stuffs, if of good average qual- 

 ity, will furnish in 100 pounds : 



