88 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



The present feeding standards recognize these facts in the amount of 

 dry matter they prescribe in the rations for the different classes of 

 animals. Obviously, when the requirement of digestible nutrients or 

 of net energy is high compared with the total amount of dry matter 

 advised, the proportion of concentrates in the ration must be large to 

 meet the standard. On the other hand, for the mere maintenance of 

 animals the standards call for a much smaller amount of digestible 

 nutrients or of net energy compared with the amount of total dry 

 matter. 



In computing rations, the following summary is helpful in showing 

 the proportion of concentrates and roughages to feed the various classes 

 of animals : 



Mature idle horses and mature cattle and sheep being maintained at constant 

 weight may be fed chiefly or entirely on roughage, unless it is of poor quality, 

 when some grain must be used. 



Horses at work should be given 2 to 3 lbs. of feed (roughages and concentrates 

 combined) daily per 100 lbs. live weight, the allowance of concentrates ranging 

 from 10 to 18 lbs., depending on the severity of the work. 



Dairy cows in milk should be fed about 2 lbs. of dry roughage or 1 lb. of dry 

 roughage and 3 lbs. of silage daily per 100 lbs. live weight, with sufficient con- 

 centrates to bring the nutrients up to the standard. 



Fattening steers need 2.1 lbs. or more of concentrates and dry roughage (or 

 the equivalent in silage) daily per 100 lbs. live weight, the allowance of con- 

 centrates ranging from less than 1 lb. to 1.7 lbs. or more, per 100 lbs. live weight, 

 depending on the rate of gain desired and the kind of roughage. 



Fattening lambs will consume about 1.4 lbs. of dry roughage daily when fed 

 all the grain they will eat, and up to 2.3 lbs. or over when the grain allowance is 

 restricted. Silage may replace a corresponding amount of dry matter in dry 

 roughage. 



Pigs can make but limited use of dry roughage, except in the case of brood 

 sows not suckling young. 



Mineral matter. — In the various feeding standards no statement is 

 made as to the amount or kind of mineral matter required by the 

 different classes of animals, the supposition being that a ration which 

 provides the proper amount of protein and other nutrients will also 

 furnish enough mineral matter. In some cases, especially with the 

 pig, the mineral supply may be deficient in amount or unbalanced in 

 character in rations which meet the ordinary standards. In computing 

 rations the special requirements of the various classes of animals, as 

 set forth in the preceding chapters, should therefore be kept in mind. 



Palatability. — As has already been pointed out in Chapter IV, the 

 palatability of the ration is an important factor in stimulating diges- 

 tion and in inducing the animal to consume heavy rations. The wise 

 feeder will utilize feeds of low palatability chiefly for such animals as 

 are being merely maintained, and will feed growing and fattening ani- 



