68 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



In the first place our methods of 

 analyses of feeding stuffs are not abso- 

 lutely uniform. Then no two animals di- 

 gest the same amount and proportion 

 of nutrients from the same feeding stuff. 

 The same feeding stuff varies in com- 

 position at different stages of maturity, 

 and as a result of different methods of 

 curing. Not one feeder in 1000 can have 

 his feeding stuffs analyzed. He must 

 depend on tables of analyses of feed- 

 ing stuffs. These feeding standards, as 

 well as tables of analyses, are the final 

 averages of many experiments and 

 analyses and hence only approximately 

 correct in any given case. Again, these 

 feeding standards have been developed 

 under conditions as they exist in Ger- 

 many. These conditions as regards both 

 feeds and methods are considerably dif- 

 ferent from what they are in America. 



The German feeding standards have 

 been in use now in this and other coun- 

 tries for a number of years. As a result 



in weight is due almost exclusively to 

 the stored fat formed from the carbohy- 

 drates and fat of the food. 



Oxen at rest have been fed the main- 

 tenance ration stated by the standard 

 and made a uniform gain in weight, 

 showing that the requirements of the 

 standard are perhaps too high. Again, 

 the food requirements of dairy cows, it 

 is claimed, should be made to conform 

 more closely to the actual productivity 

 of the cows. 



While, however, these inconsistencies 

 of the German standard have been 

 pointed out, no one as yet has offered 

 a substitute. We therefore continue to 

 use the German standard, keeping in 

 mind their deficiencies. 



Reliability of standards — The stand- 

 ards represent the final results of a long 

 series of investigations and observations 

 with each of the different classes of an- 

 imals and may be assumed to be approx- 

 imately correct for the average ph^sio- 



Fiff.43 TWO-HORSE HAY PRESS 



a number of changes have been sug- 

 gested, the most radical of which is that 

 the nutritive ratio demanded by the 

 standard for fattening mature animals is 

 much too narrow. 



The standard calls for a ration for fat- 

 tening cattle which shall have a nutri- 

 tive ratio varying from 1 :5.4 to 1 :6.5. 

 Extensive experiments by Kellner have 

 shown that the nutritive ratio of a fat- 

 tening ration for cattle may vary from 

 1:4 to 1:10 without affecting its effi- 

 ciency for fattening purposes, providing 

 that the nutrients supplied above that 

 required for maintenance be from the 

 more easily digested feeding stuffs. 

 Generally with mature animals the fat- 

 tening ration may have a wide nutritive 

 ratio, while with growing animals the 

 fattening ration should have a somewhat 

 narrower ratio. In the latter case it is 

 necessary to take into consideration the 

 protein needs of the animal for growth ; 

 while with mature animals the increase 



logical requirements of herds and flocks. 

 At any rate they present an intelligent 

 approximation to the truth, and the man 

 who consults them as a guide takes a 

 step in advanced agriculture which will 

 be of certain benefit to him intellectu- 

 ally and probably financially. The 

 feeder who is student enough to study 

 animal nutrition and the compounding 

 of rations is likely to give the greatest 

 attention to the well-being and comfort 

 of his animals in other respects and to 

 keep well informed on the cost of his 

 feeds and the market price of his prod- 

 ucts. The standards are calculated for 

 animals weighing 1000 pounds. If they 

 weigh more or less than this, the amount 

 given should be increased or decreased 

 very nearly in proportion to their 

 weight. Figures have been given show- 

 ing that the increase should be in pro- 

 portion to the radiating surfaces of the 

 animals regarding them as geometrical 

 figures. 



