438 



Feeds and Feeding. 



pound rations that will furnish all the nutrients required by cows 

 without supplying any in excess. There is no gain in attempting to 

 apply these teachings with extreme exactness to every-day feeding 

 operations. No two cows in the herd have exactly the same wants, 

 and the various feeds at hand are not identical in chemical composi- 

 tion with the averages given in the tables of composition. Such 

 tables and standards are invaluable in giving sound and helpful fun- 

 damental knowledge so that one has a clear, broad conception of what 

 he is doing and can move forward along the right lines with confi- 

 dence. Having well in hand the basic facts concerning feeding stuffs 

 and rations, it is enough if the weight of concentrates each cow con- 

 sumes daily is known, while the quantity of roughage may be esti- 

 mated from weighings made occasionally. 



To aid in efforts at economical feeding, the following groupings 

 of commonly available feeding stuffs are presented, based on their 

 digestible nutrients, fiber, and palatability : 



