RIGHT FEEDING 23 



WHAT IS A MAIN- Protein, carbohydrates, fat and ash, as explained 



TENANCE RATION? above, must all be combined in the feed to keep 



the animal alive in normal, healthy condition. 



When the food has all these necessary elements in due proportion, it actually 

 feeds the animal, i. e., maintains good healthy condition. When this food, 

 containing all needed elements, is supplied in just the quantity needed from 

 day to day, we call it a "maintenance ration." This means, the ration main- 

 tains the animal, that is, it is sufficient for comfort and repair of waste, for 

 24 hours, but gives no margin for new growth or production. 



WHAT IS A When the food, containing all these necessary 



BALANCED RATION? elements, is sufficient for the animal's needs and 



in addition is sufficient for all we want that 



animal to do; and moreover is so combined or proportioned that there is 

 no excess of any one or more of the needed elements so that all is used and 

 nothing wasted, the food is then called a "balanced ration." 



A balanced ration takes for granted a good, liberal supply of growth, 

 development, or any other energy required of the animal. A maintenance 

 ration just gives enough for the animal's own needs, with nothing over for 

 new growth or new energy. It is plain to see that there is no money in 

 feeding just a maintenance ration. It is simply humane, and keeps the 

 animal in comfort from day to day, with nothing over for the owner's 

 profit. 



For instance: 



I To maintain existence I To produce for profit 



This line represents a "maintenance ration" or "half ration," keepi: 

 e animal in health, but with no margin over. 



To maintain existence | To produce for profit | j 



This line represents the maintenance ration plus an allowance for, let 

 us say, milk production for the owner's profit. In this case it is a "three- 

 quarters ration." 



I To maintain existence j To produce for profit | 



This line represents the maintenance ration plus an allowance for ALL 

 the animal CAN BE MADE TO YIELD FOR THE OWNER'S PROFIT. 

 It is a FULL PRODUCTION RATION. 



Profit depends on what you feed ABOVE the mere MAINTENANCE 

 RATION up to this limit of full production. 



And this is not all clear profit either: You will see that your security 

 against actual loss for the keep of the animal depends on your feeding 

 more than maintenance ration; for the animal must pay you back for board 

 and care, and in addition turn you a good profit on the money invested. 



We have seen how under natural conditions each animal must graze 

 and graze until all the needed elements are secured for this "balanced" 

 ration. The domesticated animal has no such chance; but must take what 

 it gets from its feeder. In other words, every animal must depend on 

 the "balanced" judgment of its owner. Hence we say, in all this question 

 of feeding, a balanced ration is good; but a balanced judgment is better. 



Now, again, clearly the natural grazing animal had no one crowding 

 it on for production; so of course, with good maintenance ration, it had 



