FEEDING METHODS. 379 



fodder form a well-recommended ration for 

 feeding fat cattle. The grain and straw of 

 wheat also offer a good ration. There is 

 scarcely any better combination for breeding- 

 cattle than one formed of clover hay, cut oats, 

 and wheat-bran or corn-meal. 



It is evident, therefore, that it is not necessary 

 to concoct some elaborate mixture of a great 

 variety of food stuffs in order to get a good 

 ration. Indeed one of the things which scien- 

 tific investigation has clearly shown is that a 

 little variety in feeding is all that is needed. 



What the practical farmer wants is the 

 cheapest ration which is also a good ration. 

 The best way to get at this is generally to con- 

 sider what is the cheapest food in the section 

 in which we live each year and make that the 

 basis. If wheat is very low bran will prob- 

 ably be one of the cheapest substances we 

 can use. , Corn may be still cheaper. The 

 usual fluctuations in the markets may drive 

 us from one food to another, but it will pay 

 to change if many head are to be fed through 

 the winter. Wheat bran, clover hay, and cut 

 oats is one of the best combinations I have 

 ever tried, and for a little increase of flesh 

 production a small addition of linseed-oil 

 cake is very good. Under ordinary circum- 

 stances I do not believe that cooked and 

 steamed food is desirable, particularly from an 



