88 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



particular quality, deprives us even of the chance of draw- 

 ing an intelligent conclusion from our present system of 

 feeding. 



To compound the animal diet with reference to the par- 

 ticular organization of the animal, its age and its functions, 

 is of no more importance than to select the fodder sub- 

 stances with reference to its special wants, as far as the 

 absolute and relative quantity of the three essential groups 

 of food constituents are concerned. 



The peculiar character of our home-raised fodder articles 

 is apt to conceal their special deficiency for the various pur- 

 poses they are used for in general farm management. They 

 all contain the three essential food constituents, yet in 

 widely varying proportions; and they ought, therefore, to 

 be supplemented in different directions to secure their full 

 economical value. To resort to more or less of the same 

 fodder article to meet the special wants may meet the case 

 as far as an efficient support of the animal is concerned, yet 

 it can only in exceptional cases be considered good economy. 



Fodder Rations. — To satisfy the craving of the stomach 

 and to feed a nutritious food are both requirements of a healthy 

 animal diet, which, each in its own way, may be complied with. 

 The commercial fodder substances — as oil-cakes, mill refuse 

 brans, and our steadily increasing supply of refuse materials 

 from breweries, starch works, glucose factories, etc. — are 

 admirably fitted to supplement our farm resources for stock 

 feeding ; they can serve in regard to animal growth and 

 support, in a similar way as the commercial fertilizers in 

 the growth of our farm crops, by supplementing our home 

 manurial resources. To feed an excess of food materials, 

 as roots, potatoes, etc., which contain a large proportion of 

 non-nitrogenous matter, as starch, sugar, digestible cellular 

 substance, etc., means direct waste, for they are ejected by 

 the animal, and do not even materially benefit the manure 

 heap. In case of an excessive consumption of nitrogenous 

 constituents, — as oil-cakes, brans, gluten meal, etc., — a part 

 of the expense is saved in an increased value of the manure 

 obtained, yet scarcely enough to recommend that practice 

 beyond merely exceptional cases. The aim, therefore, of 

 an economical stock-feeding must be to compound our 



