BUSINESS METHODS IN FEEDING 129 



Fat. — The so-called fats of fodders and feeds is 

 impure, being mixed with wax, resins, coloring 

 matter, etc. These materials are also extracted from 

 a fodder by boiling ether, hence are called ether 

 extract. 



Carbohydrates. — Substances which come under 

 this class are usually divided into two groups: (i) 

 Nitrogen-free extract, a term applied to a somewhat 

 miscellaneous group of nutrients, none of which con- 

 tains nitrogen. Its principal constituents are starch, 

 sugar, gums, and similar substances. (2) Cellulose 

 or fiber, the essential constituents of the walls of 

 vegetable cells. Example, cotton fiber and wood 

 pulp, which are nearly pure cellulose. Coarse fod- 

 ders like hay and straw contain a large proportion 

 of fiber, while most grains contain but little. 



Protein. — Nitrogenous compounds is the name of 

 a group of materials containing nitrogen. All other 

 constituents of feeding stufifs, the ash, fat, and carbo- 

 hydrates, are non-nitrogenous or free from nitrogen. 

 Protein materials are often designated as "flesh 

 formers" because they furnish the materials for lean 

 flesh, but they also enter largely into the composi- 

 tion of blood, skin and muscles, the casein and 

 albumen of milk, etc. No substance free from nitro- 

 gen can take the place of protein. It is absolutely 

 necessary then to have it in the ration if the animal 

 is to grow or maintain existence. Protein is held by 

 some to be a stimulant to milk production. 



I. Chemical analyses of feeding stuffs. — For the 

 practical dairyman the chemical analysis of fodders 

 and feeds showing the crude nutrients they contain 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



