32 THE CREAMERY PATRON'S HANDBOOK. 



animals consume feeding stuffs containing protein the digested portion 

 leaves the intestines and passes into the blood circulation, going ultimately 

 to build up the protein parts of the body, as already explained. From all 

 this we will readily understand that the dairy cow must have a goodly sup- 

 ply of protein in her feed in order to maintain her own muscular system, to 

 build up the muscles of the foetal calf, and to form the casein and albumen 

 (protein) portion of the milk. 



The next group of substances which we shall consider is characterized 

 by the term "carbohydrates." Sugar and starch are pure carbohydrates. 

 The woody fiber of plants is likewise a carbohydrate having practically 

 the same chemical composition as sugar and starch, though less digestible 

 than these. The carbohydrates dissolve in the digestive tract and when ab- 

 sorbed into the blood serve the animal for the production of fat v 

 for warming the body and for the production of energy. They may be con- 

 verted into the sugar part of milk. The carbohydrates constitute a larger 

 proportion of feeding stuffs percentagely than does protein; the animal like- 

 wise needs more pounds of carbohydrates for its nourishment than it needs 

 pounds of protein. Corn, wheat, and the other grains are all rich in carbo- 

 hydrates since they are composed largely of starch. Timothy hay, corn 

 stover, and the straws are relatively rich in carbohydrates, containing as 

 they do considerable starch, some sugar, and much woody fiber. 



The fatty substances in feeding stuffs possess the same chemical ele- 

 ments as the carbohydrates and in general they serve the same purpose 

 the formation of fat and keeping the body warm. The fatty substance in 

 feeding stuffs is generally termed "ether extract "by the chemist because he 

 uses ether in his laboratory to extract the fat from the different feeding 

 stuffs. When a pound of fat or oil is burned it gives off from 2 to 2 times 

 as much heat as does a pound of woody fiber, sugar, or starch when burned. 

 By multiplying the fat found in a feed by 2.4 we are able to measure its 

 fuel value in terms of carbohydrates. Flaxseed and cottonseed are both 

 rich in oil; linseed oil meal and cotton -seed meal obtained from these seeds 

 will carry considerable oil. Indian corn is quite rich in oil. Root crops are 

 poor in oil or ether extract. 



A protein substance taken into the body proper can be used for all of 

 the purposes that protein is required for and also do the work generally 

 imposed upon the carbohydrates; that is, protein can build muscle or it 

 can be converted into heat or fat or energy. On the other hand the carbo- 

 hydrates and fat cannot of themselves build up muscle. They contain 

 no nitrogen and cannot form red meat in the body (muscle) nor can they 

 be elaborated into the cheese part of the milk. The protein part of feeds 

 is always expensive so that while protein can serve all body wants we should 

 not attempt to use it further than is absolutely necessary, making the cheap 

 carbohydrates serve so far as they possibly can. We all know that oil 

 meal and cotton-seed meal are high priced they are so because the buyers 

 are seeking protein and to some extent fat. The carbohydrates in the form 



