COST OF RATIONS. 63 



It is important that the farmer should know when purchasing 

 feeding stuff just what its source and its nature are. Consider- 

 able fraud frequently exists in this respect, and various wastes 

 are introduced upon the market that have only a secondary 

 nutritive value. 



The New York Agricultural Experiment Station proposes the 

 following rules: 



1. A ration to contain 30 to 45 per cent, protein and 50 to 60 

 per cent, carbohydrates: Cotton seed meal, linseed meal and 

 gluten meal. 



2. A ration to contain 20 to 30 per cent, protein and 66 to 

 70 per cent, carbohydrates: Gluten feeds, dried brewers' grain, 

 malt sprouts, buckwheat, middlings, etc. 



3. A ration to contain 14 to 20 per cent, protein and 70 to 75 

 per cent, carbohydrates: Middlings, from wheat and rye. 



4. A ration to contain 8 to 14 per cent, protein and 75 to 85 

 per cent, carbohydrates: Cereals, grains, hominy, etc. 



The cost of the ration should be as low as possible, so that Cost of rations, 

 the results obtained will be .at least equal to cost of fodders. 

 Just within what limits the farmer can profitably grow his own 

 fodders is a question we cannot here discuss. All things being 

 equal one fact is certain, he saves the cost of transportation. 

 Oil meal for example can be more profitably utilized for milk 

 production near large cities than it could be for cattle fattening 

 on distant farms. Oats are more suitable for feeding working 

 animals than they would be for stall-fed cattle. Consequently 

 one must take into consideration the value of the product used. 

 If the farmer has not on hand any so-called concentrated 

 fodder, it becomes of the first importance that he purchase what 

 is needed from outside. Fodders must be considered collect- 

 ively and not separately. 



