112 



FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



AVhen protein-rich feeds are cheaper than those carbonaceous in 

 character, as in the cotton belt and the alfalfa districts of the West, 

 it will be economy to feed much more than the minimum amounts of 

 protein set forth in the standards. However, protein should not be 

 supplied in such excess as to injure the health of the animals. 



Proportion of concentrates and roughages. — To meet the stand- 

 ards for fattening cattle and sheep and for milch cows, fairly liberal 

 amounts of concentrates are required. When concentrates furnish 

 total digestible nutrients nearly as cheaply as do roughages it is ad- 

 visable to feed as large a proportion of concentrates as is called for 

 bv the standards. On the other Jiand, in many of the alfalfa districts 



Fig. 29. — Fattening Beef Cattle on Grass in ^he Corn Belt 



On high-priced land, with few acres nnsiiited for tillage, the stockman has gen- 

 erally found it more profitable to fatten feeder cattle brought from the ranges 

 than to raise his own feeders. 



of the West, grain is usually high in price compared with alfalfa hay. 

 Here it may be more profitable to restrict the grain allowance, even 

 tho gains are slower. 



With dairy cows much depends on the productive capacity of the 

 animal. Except when concentrates are unusually high in price, the 

 cow of good dairy temperament will pay for at least a fair amount of 

 concentrates. On the contrary, for a cow of low productive capacity 

 the most economical ration may be silage and legume hay with no con- 

 centrates. 



Roughing growing animals thru the winter. — The recommenda- 

 tions of the standards for growing cattle and sheep are based upon 

 continuous thrifty growth, and hence call for a limited allowance of 

 concentrates in addition to roughage. The breeder of pure-bred ani- 



