1892.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 89 



various fodder materials in such a manner that the largest 

 quantity of each of the three above-stated groups of fodder 

 substances, which the animal is capable of assimilating, 

 should be contained in its daily diet to meet the purpose for 

 wliich it is kept. 



To compound the fodder rations of our farm stock, with 

 reference to the special wants of each class of them, is an 

 essential requirement for a satisfactory performance of their 

 functions ; to supply these wants in an economical way con- 

 trols the financial success of the industry. From these and 

 similar considerations it will be apparent that the develop- 

 ment of a more rational, and thus more economical, system 

 of feeding farm live-stock requires the following kind of 

 information : — 



First. How much of each of the three essential groups 

 of food constituents is contained in the fodder we feed ? 



Second. How much of each of these essential food con- 

 stituents is digesti])le under existing circumstances, and 

 is thus directly available to the particular animal on trial ? 



Third. How much of each of the three essential food 

 constituents does each kind of animal require to secure the 

 best results? 



More than twenty-five years have passed by since these 

 questions have seriously engaged the attention of skilful 

 experimenters. Sufficient valuable information has been 

 secured in the course of time to encourage the use of the 

 adopted methods of observation, and to impart to many of 

 the conclusions arrived at a just claim for a serious consid- 

 eration on the part of practical agriculturists. The fact 

 that much needs still to be learned to meet the reasonable 

 expectations of those engaged in the development of a more 

 economical system of feeding farm live-stock cannot be con- 

 sidered a valid reason why we should not make an intelligent 

 use of what we have learned. 



Fodder Analysis. — The chemical analysis of a fodder 

 article is carried on with a view to determine the quantity 

 of each group of its constituents, which is considered an 

 essential ingredient of a complete food for the support of 

 animal life. Our modes of analyzing articles of fodder are 



