THE COMPOUNDING OF RATIONS 371 



amount of others. So, in an extremely wide ration, a fowl 

 is compelled to consume more carbohydrates than its body 

 requires in order that it may obtain the vital amountsof protein. 



Securing the proper composition not only refers to the 

 proper nutritive ratio, regarding the nitrogenous and non- 

 nitrogenous nutrients, but also the completeness and proper 

 balance between grain, animal food, succulence, ash, grit, 

 charcoal, bone or any other material that may be fed. A 

 ration is balanced when it contains all the nutrients in right 

 proportions. It is complete when it contains, in addition to 

 the nutrients, every material that may produce a desirable 

 nutritive effect. 



Digestibility. — The digestibility of feeds has been fully 

 treated elsewhere in another connection. In feeding practice 

 it is necessary to fully appreciate its importance in relation 

 to cost, the need of guarding against too much bulk on the 

 one hand and too great concentration on tlie other. A ration 

 composed wholly of mangel beets (90 per cent water) and 

 chopped oat straw might have a nutritive ratio tliat was 

 ajiproximately correct, but it would be so bulky and so 

 kicking in available nutrients that enough energy could not 

 be secured from it to carry on the work of digestion. 



On the other hand, a ration composed entirely of corn 

 and meat scraps would contain so small an amount of 

 bulky material that the intestines would not be sufficiently 

 distended to allow for thorough digestion and prevent 

 constipation. 



Between two feeds having the same composition and cost- 

 ing the same, the one having the highest digestion coefficient 

 is the more profitable to feed. While the exact situation is 

 not met in actual practice, the principle involved is met and 

 must constantly be considered. 



Variety. — Variety is one of the spring conditions responsible 

 for the increased production of that season. There is not only 

 grain, animal feed, and green feed in abundance, but there are 

 very many kinds of each. Aside from the cultivated grains, 

 there are many seeds from the weeds and grasses, there are 

 hundreds of kinds of insects and worms and nearly as many 

 different kinds of tender greenness. 



