8 N. H. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 175 



teen. The amount varies with the nature of the feed, the 

 process of manufacture, and the manner of storage. 



ASH. 



The ash of a feed is the residue left after burning off 

 the organic matter. It represents the inorganic or min- 

 eral constituent of the plant. This part of the feed fur- 

 nishes the material for the bones of the animal. 



CRUDE PROTEIN. 



B}" crude protein is meant that portion of a feeding- 

 stuff which contains nitrogen. Nitrogenous feeds build up 

 muscular tissue and the proteins are of the greatest im- 

 portance in determining the value of a feed. Most of 

 the crude protein in the plant is found at the point of 

 growth, or in the leaves and seeds. 



CRUDE FAT. 



The term crude fat is rather arbitrarily used to include 

 all the portions of the feed soluble in dry ether or simi- 

 lar solvents. They are the pure fats, such as cottonseed 

 oil, linseed oil, etc., and the waxes, resins, chlorophyl, etc. 

 These latter substances are generalh^ so small in amount 

 that for practical purposes the ether extract of a feed 

 represents the amount of fat wliich it contains. The fats 

 are readily digested and rank next to protein in value. 



FIBRE. 



The crude fibre in a feeding-stuff is that portion which 

 goes to make up the cell- walls and structural material of 

 the plant. It is fairly indigestible and in general a high 

 percentage of crude fibre indicates a low-grade feed. 



NITROGEN-FREE EXTRACT. 



Tlie nitrogen-free extract is that portion of the feed 

 readily extracted by water or dilute acids and composed of 

 non-nitrogenous materials. The principal substances in- 

 cluded under the term are tlie starches and sugars. 



CARBOHYDRATES. 



The term carbohydrates is sometimes used in speaking 

 of feeding-stuffs. It is generally used to include both 



