26 



In general the high grade protein feeds are the most 

 Satisfactory economical, the buyer getting decidedly more nutri- 

 Protein tive value for the money invested, than when pur- 



Feeds, chasing low grade feeds, costing a few dollars less a 



ton. The writer believqs mixed feeds to be more 

 expensive than unmixed. The consumer had better buy cottonseed 

 or gluten meal, distillers' grains and wheat middlings, than feeds 

 consisting of mixtures of oat offal to which small quantities of these 

 nitrogenous feeds have been added. The cost of mixing grain 

 rations amounts to very little, and the feeder knows of just what they 

 consist. 



It is believed that many dairymen buy too large a 

 Concerning proportion of wheat bran. It is a safe feed and excel- 

 Wheat Bran. lent for diluting or " lightening up " the more con- 

 centrated by-products. It contains, however, only 

 13 percent of digestible protein, and 35 to 40 per cent of indigest- 

 'ible matter. The long distance transportation of a material contain- 

 ing such a large, amount of inert matter is an important factor in 

 making the nutrients it contains relatively expensive. In the writer's 

 opinion, the average eastern farmer- cannot afford to use more than 

 one-third bran in his ration. Dried distillers' grains are a bulky 

 feed, and may be used in place of bran as a diluter, besides being 

 very rich in nitrogenous matter. 



The farm has been aptly called the carbohydrate 

 Starchy factory, the principle fodder crops produced being, 



Feeds not hay, corn fodder, corn (grain) and similar materials, 



Economical all low in protein, and high in carbohydrates. 

 to Purchase. Therefore, as a rule it is not wise for the dairy farmer 

 to purchase starchy feeds since he produces them. Exceptions to 

 this statement may be made when the supply of corn is slTOrt, and it 

 is necessary to feed horses, swine and poultry. Even in such cases, 

 feeds medium in protein should be given the preference, for the 

 reason that they contain considerably more nitrogen, phosphates, 

 and potash than do the starchy feeds. Thus a ton of wheat bran 

 contains twice, and a ton of cottonseed meal, three and one-half 

 times as much of the elements of fertility as does a ton of corn 

 meal. Milk producers who purchase all their feeds can, on the con- 

 trary, often use to advantage mixtures containing one-third corn or 

 hominy meal. 



