FEEDS AND FEEDING IO3 



different soils, and in different climatic conditions 

 at the same stage of growth. At different periods 

 before maturity, the corn plant contains a very- 

 large per cent of water and a correspondingly small 

 proportion of feeding value. As the time of ma- 

 turity approaches, the water contained becomes 

 less, the materials of definite feeding value are de- 

 posited both in the grain and in the leaves and 

 stalk, and the feeding value consequently increases. 

 Then, after harvest, the plant is likely to become 

 less palatable, or is likely, through imperfect har- 

 vesting and storing conditions, to lose considerable 

 amounts of its nutriment, and its degree of feeding 

 value will vary considerably, depending upon the 

 degree of perfection reached in harvesting and stor- 

 ing the crop. 



This example may be taken as typical of the vari- 

 ous kinds and classes of stock foods to indicate that 

 no one chemical analysis can be rigidly applied in 

 determining the value of feed. The same is true 

 with regard to the individual animal's capacity to 

 utilize feed to the best advantage. Digestion ex- 

 periments, extending over many years' time, in 

 different sections of the world, have shown that 

 no two animals digest exactly the same amount 

 of the feed given them, and consequently no two 

 can be expected to make exactly the same relative 

 gains, even though they be given the same amount 

 of similar feeds. Every feeder of extended expe- 

 rience will recall individual animals which he has 

 found it impossible to fatten. Every farmer has 

 had experience with some ungainly, raw-boned 

 horse, which will consume enormous quantities of 

 feed and yet will always appear in poor condition 

 of flesh. These instances illustrate the vast dif- 

 ference in the capacity of individual animals to 



