cow, producing daily 10 quarts of milk of average quality, needs ap- 

 proximately the following amounts of digestible nutiients: 



Digestible. Protein. Fat. Carbohydrates. Total. Nutritive Ratio. 



Pounds. . 2.25 .5 13 or 13.5 16 1 to 5.6 or 7 



Now, if this animal were fed daily as much of an extra quality of hay 

 as she would consume (28 to 30 pounds), she would receive: 



Digestible. Protein. Fat. Carbyhydrates. Total. Nutritive Ratio. 



Pounds, .1.3 .3 13 14.6 1 to 10.5 



Such a ration is deficient both in total digestible nutrients as well as 

 in digestible protein. If 7 pounds of the hay were replaced by an equal 

 amount of corn meal, the hay and corn meal would furnish: 



The corn meal being very digestible, but a one-sided or starchy feed, 

 would sufficiently increase the total digestible nutrients, but not the 

 protein. If 4 pounds of corn meal were replaced by 2 pounds of bran 

 and two pounds of cottonseed meal, the several feeds would supply: 



Digestible. Protein. Fat. Carbohydrates. Total. Nutritive Ratio. 



Pounds. 2.07 .60 13.20 15.87 1 to 6.6 



The replacing of 7 pounds of hay with 3 pounds of com meal rich in 

 digestible matter and with 2 pounds each of bran and cottonseed meal 

 especially rich in digestible protein, furnishes a ration containing less 

 fiber and more starchy matter and protein than is contained in the hay . 

 Such a ration contains the requisite amount of both total digestible 

 matter and digestible protein, and may be said to be properly balanced. 



6. Types of Balanced Rations. 



Because of the high prices usually prevailing for all concentrated 

 feeds, dairymen are frequently in doubt as to the kinds to be selected 

 and the amount to be fed in order to secure the best returns for the 

 money invested. Farmers selling cream to the creamery, or located 

 where there is not a quick demand for milk, probably will not find it 

 economical to feed over 3 to 5 pounds of purchased grain daily, and 

 will use maximum amounts of home-grown hay and silage (1 bushel 

 of silage and what hay the animal will eat clean) . If the silage is well 

 eared, 1 }4 pounds each of cottonseed meal and flour middlings, sprinkled 

 over the silage to distribute it, will produce a fairly well-balanced ra- 

 tion, and prove helpful in maintaining the milk flow. If corn meal is 

 a home product rather than silage, mix by weight ^ bran, >^ corn and 

 cob meal and ji cottonseed meal, (100 pounds bran, 200 pounds com 



