300 The Feeding of Animals 



These combinations are merely illustrative. Many others 

 furnishing an equivalent quantity of available nutri- 

 ents may be used. Doubtless these various mixtures 

 will not show equal efficiency. Ration No. 3 would 

 probably be more satisfactory than No. 5, because of 

 greater palatableness. All such facts as the proportion 

 of grain in the mixture, the stage of growth of the 

 fodder, whether early or late cut, immature or mature, 

 the amount of moisture present, as in stover, and the 

 completeness of preservation, will have an influence 

 upon the nutritive effect of a ration, and these factors 

 must be considered according to the best judgment of 

 the feeder. It is possible, without question, to main- 

 tain an animal on one fodder alone, such as hay, but 

 for several obvious reasons it is better to feed a mix- 

 ture. 



The maintenance rations heretofore stated apply to 

 a 1,000 -pound animal. For animals weighing more 

 or less the quantity should be increased or diminished, 

 but not in just the ratio in which the animal varies in 

 weight. For information on this point the reader 

 should refer to what is given in the chapter on com- 

 pounding rations. 



MAINTENANCE FOOD FOB HORSES 



The general facts which have been presented in re. 

 lation to the function and character of a maintenance 

 ration are as applicable to horses as to bovines. It 

 is true, . however, that rations simply sufficient for 

 maintenance purposes have a very limited application 



