CHAPTER 45 



Feeds and feeding 



By Dr. H. S. Grindley and Sleeter Bull 

 Professor and Associate of Animal Nutrition, University of Illinois 



Introduction. — A knowledge of the scientific principles of stock 

 feeding is important to the stockman. This knowledge is not absolutely 

 essential, as many have achieved success in feeding as a result of years of 

 experience. However, "experience is a dear teacher" and if one combines 

 a study of the scientific principles of feeding with the experience gained in 

 the barn and feed lot, he will learn the art of successful feeding more quickly, 

 more thoroughly and with less expense than if he depends upon experience 

 as his only teacher. 



Chemical Composition of Feeding-stuffs. — All feeding-stuffs are 

 composed of a great number of different compounds which are grouped 

 into five classes, viz., water, mineral matter, crude protein, carbohydrates 

 and fats. These classes of compounds are usually spoken of as "nutrients," 

 because they are used for the nutrition of the animal. 



Water is found in large amounts in such feeds as green pasture, silage, 

 beets and milk, while such feeds as hay, bran, corn, middlings, etc., contain 

 from 10 to 20 per cent water. A knowledge of the water content of feeds 

 is important for two reasons: (1) feeds high in water content are lower in 

 feeding value, pound for pound, than feeds low in water; (2) feeds contain- 

 ing more than 18 or 20 per cent water usually ferment and spoil when 

 stored in bulk. 



Mineral Matter, or ash as it is sometimes called, is that part of the 

 feed which remains as ash when the feed is burned. In the animal body, 

 mineral matter is used principally for the repair and growth of bone. It 

 is also used in the growth and repair of the muscles and vital organs. It 

 is found in the blood and other body fluids. A certain amount of it is 

 absolutely essential to proper growth and development, or even for life 

 itself. 



Most of the roughages, especially the legumes, as clover, alfalfa and 

 soy beans, are quite high in mineral matter. Also such feeds as tankage, 

 middlings, cottonseed meal, linseed meal and bran are high in mineral 

 matter. The cereal grains, especially corn, are low in mineral matter. 

 Consequently, in feeding horses, cattle and sheep, little account need be 

 taken of the mineral matter of the ration, except to provide salt, as these 

 animals are nearly always given feeding-stuffs, some of which are high in 

 mineral matter. However, in case of hogs, the ration may be deficient in 



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