396 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



pare with the standard. It will be observed that the ration is short of 

 dry matter 5 pounds. This is not of much consequence. It is slightly 

 lacking in protein and is slightly in excess of the requirement for carbo- 

 hydrates and fats. The nutritive ratio is found by multiplying the 

 weight of fats by zi, adding the product to the weight of carbohydrates 

 and dividing the sum by the weight of protein (.6x2.25-1-11.33) 

 -H 1.897 =6.6. The ratio of protein to carbohydrates is I : 6.6. 



This indicates that the ratio is a little too wide to conform to the 

 standard. By looking at it carefully it becomes evident that it might 

 be slightly changed in a number of ways to make it conform more 

 nearly to the standard. A few more pounds of clover, which has a 

 narrower ratio, might be added, at the same time reducing slightly the 

 amount of corn meal. Other changes might be made that would give 

 the same result. The ration as it stands is not bad at all. It is not 

 expected that the ration will be made to conform exactly to the standard. 

 The protein content, however, should not vary much from the standard, 

 and on account of the cost of nitrogenous foods, should be slightly less, 

 rather than more, than is there given. It requires considerable study 

 and the exercise of good judgment to make up the best feeding ration 

 from a given number of foods. 



Make a ration for dairy cow weighing 900 pounds, giving 22 pounds 

 of milk a day, from the following: red clover hay, linseed meal, oats, 

 and corn silage. If your first guess does not make a ration that con- 

 forms to the standard fairly well, try again, varying the weight of the 

 several foods to give the nutrients required. 



Exercises. (i.) Make a ration for a dairy cow weighing 850 

 pounds and giving 27! pounds of milk daily, from the following 

 feeds: timothy hay, corn silage, linseed meal (new process), and 

 wheat shorts. 



(2) Make a balanced ration for a I2oo-pound horse at moderate 

 work from the following: timothy hay, wheat bran, and oats. 



(3) Make a ration for fattening sheep averaging 175 pounds in 

 weight, from corn silage, bran, and oats. 



(4) A farmer fed each of his cows, averaging 1000 pounds in 

 weight, about 10 pounds of timothy hay, 16 pounds of sorghum silage, 

 and 4 pounds of corn and cob meal daily. He was getting an average 

 of 150 pounds of butter from his cows for the year. Suggest some 



