8 



Such a ration is deficient 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 2 pounds of cottonseed meal, 

 the several feeds would supply : — 



The replacing of 7 pounds of hay with 3 pounds of corn 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 di- 

 gestible protein, and may be said to be properly balanced. 



6. Types of Balanced Rations. 

 Because of the high prices usually prevailing for all con- 

 centrated 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 maxi- 

 mum amounts of home-grown hay and silage (1 to If bushels 

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

 is well eared, 1| pounds each of cottonseed meal and flour 

 middlings, sprinkled over the silage to distribute it, will pro- 

 duce a fairly well-balanced ration, and prove helpful in main- 

 taining the milk flow. If corn meal is a home product rather 

 than silage, mix by weight j bran, ^ corn and cob meal and 

 ^ cottonseed meal (100 pounds bran, 200 pounds corn and cob 

 meal and 100 pounds cottonseed meal), and feed 5 to 6 quarts 



