12 



These latter are medium in protein, having from 14 per cent in case 

 of clover to 18 per cent in the bran. Corn meal is also low in 

 protein, and the other grains but little higher. The grains have the 

 same type of composition as do the hays and straws with this exception, 

 that they contain little or no cellulose and hence are very much more 

 digestible. The grains might be considered as concentrated hays, 

 having one-third more nutritious matter than the latter. Other things 

 being equal therefore, if a ton of hay was worth $15.00, a ton of 

 corn meal would be worth $20.00 for feeding. The hays, roots and 

 grains contain from nine to thirteen times as much carbohydrates as 

 protein and are said to have a wide nutritive ratio. The legumes 

 (clover, pea and bean fodders) contain more protein than do the hays 

 and grains, having only about five times as much carbohydrates as 

 protein and are said tc have a narrow nutritive ratio. The legumes 

 are especially valuable as fodder crops because they are richer in the 

 costly protein than the straws, grasses and grains, and because when 

 supplied with but little nitrogen in the form of manure, they are able 

 to take it from the air. They are also valuable to plant in rotation 

 with grain crops and grasses. 



In column five of Table I are classified those feeds high in protein. 

 They are mostly by-products and vary from 20 per cent protein with 

 a nutritive ratio of 1:3 in case of the gluten feeds, to 40 per cent 

 protein with a ratio of 1:1. 



We have then practically three classes of cattle feeds, (a) those 

 low in protein and high in carbohydrates (1 : 10) such as hays, 

 straws, roots and grains, but varying in digestibility, (b) medium in 

 protein and medium in carbohydrates (1 : 5), and (c) high in protein 

 and low in carbohydrates (1 : 2). Recognizing then the difference in 

 composition of the various feed stuffs, and knowing the uses of the 

 protein, fat and carbohydrates in the process of nutrition, our next 

 step would be to so combine the several feeds as to secure the sev- 

 eral groups in such quantities and proportions, as to best attain the 

 end sought. 



It might be of interest in passing, to note the comparative differ- 

 ence in the value of the nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid in one 

 ton of these several feeds. (See last column Table II.) The fer- 

 tilizing ingredients in hays, straws, etc., have about the same value 

 as in the grains. In the legumes they are one half as valuable again, 

 and in case of the concentrated feeds, from three to nearly four times 

 as valuable as in either the grains, straws or hays. 



