THE FEEDING OP THE ANIMAL 253 



The skill of the feeder depends upon his success 

 in finding out how far the individual require- 

 ments of his animals warrant a variation in the 

 standard. 



4d. Bulk in the ration 



466. Aside from the amount of digestible 

 nutrients and the nutritive ratio,, the bulk of 

 the ration is a matter of considerable impor- 

 tance. It has already been noted (433) that 

 considerable portions of all the nutrients are 

 not digested. Consequently, in every ration there 

 is more or less material of which the animal 

 makes no use, and which may be said to merely 

 add to the bulk of the ration. "Water and fiber 

 are, above all other things, the substances which 

 give bulk to a fodder or ration. 



467. Fodders which contain large amounts 

 of either or both of these substances are said to 

 bo coarse or bulky ; fodders which have a min- 

 imum amount are said to be concentrated. If 

 a ration is too bulky, the animal is unable to 

 eat enough to obtain sufficient nutrients. On 

 the other hand, a ration may be so concentrated 

 that the proper amount of digestible nutrients 

 do not sufficiently distend the digestive organs 

 so that the gastric fluids may fully act. This is 

 particularly the case with ruminants (382-384, 

 367). 



