24 



BULLETIN 459, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



To this we have to add sufficient grain to bring the ration up to the 

 requirement. The proper amount we must ascertain by trial. We 

 will take, at a venture, 4 pounds of corn meal and 2 pounds of wheat 

 bran. Adding this to the ration we have: 



Kind and amount of feed. 



Total dry 

 matter. 



Digestible 

 protein. 



Net energy 

 value. 



Corn forage, 10 pounds 

 Clover hay, 6 pounds . 

 Corn meal, 4 pounds. . 

 Wheat bran, 2 pounds 



Total 



Pounds. 

 8.17 

 5.23 

 3.55 

 1.80 



Pounds. 



0.23 



.29 



.26 



.22 



IS. 75 



1.00 



Therms. 

 4.39 

 2.32 

 3.55 

 1.06 



11.32 



Comparing these totals with the requirement as computed, we find 

 that the ration is ample as regards energy but considerably low in 

 digestible protein. The rather low figure for dry matter shows that 

 more feed may be added to the ration if desirable, but the total 

 for net energy makes it evident that what is needed is not more feed, 

 but feed of a different composition, supplying more protein along 

 with rather less energy. Gluten meal answers this requirement, and 

 substituting 2 pounds of it for 2 pounds of corn meal gives a ration 

 which, while still a trifle high in energy, agrees as closely as necessary 

 with the computed requirements. Thus: 



Kind and amount of feed. 



Total dry 

 matter. 



Digestible 

 protein. 



Net>energy 

 value. 



Corn forage, 10 pounds 

 Clover hay, 6 pounds. . 

 Corn meal, 2 pounds. ., 

 Wheat bran, 2 pounds. 

 Gluten meal, 2 pounds 



Total 



Pounds. 

 8.17 

 5.23 

 1.77 

 1.80 

 1.82 



18.79 



Pounds. 

 0.23 

 .29 

 .13 

 .22 

 .56 



1.43 



Therms. 

 4.39 

 2.32 

 1.78 

 1.06 

 1.68 



11.23 



This ration corresponds with the average requirement of the whole 

 herd, since it is based on its average performance. It hardly need be 

 said that it should be modified to suit the requirements and capacities 

 of the individual cows, the heavy milkers getting more and the lighter 

 ones less. 



By proceeding in this manner, with a little patience we can usually 

 get a ration corresponding as closely as is necessary to the require- 

 ment, provided the feeds available admit of it. With a little experi- 

 ence one very soon learns to guess pretty closely, and with some prac- 

 tice the computations become very easy. An exact agreement with 

 the requirement need not be sought for, since in practice the compo- 

 sition of the feeds will probably vary more or less from the average of 

 the tables. 



