THE FEEDING OF DAIRY COWS. 13 



industries. The following are among the most common of these 

 feeds: Wheat bran, wheat middlings, linseed meal, cottonseed meal, 

 gluten meal, gluten feed, hominy feed, brewers' grains, malt sprouts, 

 distillers' grains, beet pulp, molasses, buckwheat middlings, coconut 

 meal, peanut meal. 



The following analyses 1 represent digestible nutrients in 100 

 pounds. The fat is multiplied by 2.25 and added to the carbohy- 

 drates. This represents the energy or heat-making part of the feed. 



WHEAT BRAN. 



Digestible nutrients. Protein, 12.5 per cent; carbohydrates and fat, 48.4 

 per cent. 



Bran is the outside coating of grains, and is the residue or by- 

 product from the manufacture of flour. Wheat bran may be derived 

 from winter or spring wheat, and there is little difference in its com- 

 position from either source. 



From a physiological standpoint wheat bran is one of the very 

 best feeds for cows. It is slightly laxative in nature, and generally 

 tends to keep the cow's digestive system in good condition. The price 

 based upon its protein content is usually so high that most com- 

 mercial dairymen combine it with other feeds in which protein costs 

 less per pound. Aside from the value of the nutrients which it con- 

 tains, it has a special value in a feeding mixture, as it gives bulk and 

 adds to the palatability. Wheat bran may be used when the rest of 

 the grain ration is lacking in palatability or is of a constipating 

 nature. It is especially good when the roughage is all dry. The best 

 grades of wheat bran are of light weight, with large flakes. Some of 

 the large mills put the sweepings from the mill into the bran ; there- 

 fore, it is usually best to buy the highest grade of bran, provided the 

 mills grading it are reliable. The output of small country mills is 

 usually of excellent quality. Bran contains a high proportion of 

 phosphorus and potash in its ash content. 



WHEAT MIDDLINGS. 



Digestible nutrients. Protein, 13.4 per cent; carbohydrates and fat, 55.9 per 

 cent. 



Standard wheat middlings or shorts are composed of the finer por- 

 tions of the bran together with the coarser portion of the flour. They 

 are not quite so flaky as bran, are a little less laxative, and contain a 

 somewhat smaller quantity of ash. In other respects they may be 

 said to resemble bran closely. This feed is somewhat pasty when 

 moist, and consequently lacks bulk. 



1 The analyses of dicrostible protein, carbohydrates, and fat of the various feeds are taken 

 from " Feeds and Feeding," by Henry and Morrison. 



