53 



HOW A BALANCED RATION MAY BE CALCULATED.* 



Given the necessary amount of home-grown roughage, a grain 

 ration which wovdd approximately balance or round out the ration 

 should have the following qualifications: 



1. It should be bulky, palatable and free from mould and 

 rancidity. 



2. It should contain from 20 to 25 per cent of protein. 



3. It should not contain over 9 per cent of fiber. 



With home-grown corn and cob meal supposing it is desired to 

 add wheat mixed feed and cottonseed meal in order to produce 

 a ration containing 20-25 per cent of protein and less than 9 

 per cent of fiber. 



Protein. Fiber. 



% % 



Corn and cob meal contains 8 7 



Wheat bran contains 16 ■ 10 



Cottonseed meal contains 41 6 



(o) Protein Calculation. 

 250 lbs. corn and cob meal x 8% protein =20.0 lbs. protein. 

 100 '' bran X 16% protein =16.0 " 



100 " cottonseed meal X 41% protein =41.0 " " 



450 lbs. total, 77.0 lbs. protein. 



Dividing 77 lbs. protein by 450 lbs. total weight, we get 17 

 per cent protein for the mixture, which does not meet our require- 

 ment. 



In our trial ration we have too little protein and it will be neces- 

 sary to reduce the amount of wheat bran or corn and cob meal. 

 Reducing the corn and cob meal by 100 lbs. and the bran by 25 

 lbs. we have: 



150 lbs. corn and cob meal x 8% protein =12.0 lbs. protein. 

 75 " bran X 16% protein =12.0 "■ 



100 " cottonseed meal X 41% protein =41.0 " 



325 lbs. total, 65.0 lbs. protein. 



Dividing 65 lbs. total protein by 325 lbs. mixture, we have 20 

 per cent protein for mixture which would make approximately a 

 balanced ration. 



{b) Fiber Calculation. 

 150 lbs. corn and cob meal x 7% fiber =10.5 lbs. fiber. 

 75 " bran X 10% fiber, =7.5 " " 



100 " cottonseed meal X 6% fiber = 6.0 " " 



325 lbs. total, 24.0 lbs. pij^^fju. 



*In figuring a balanced ration by this method, it is necessary to take it for granted that if 

 the protein supply is sufficient, the total digestible matter, — carbohydrates and fat — will take 

 care of themselves. With all ordinary feeding stuffs this is practically true. For more 

 scientific methods of calculating rations, see any of the standard works on feeding farm ani- 

 mals. 



