CEREALS 



43 



Com. — Corn is the king of American crops. The grain 

 is high in starch and fat. It is comparatively low in pro- 

 tein and mineral matter and contains but a small amount 

 of crude hber. It is one of the best feeds to put on fat 

 and to furnish heat and energ_\- to the animal. Since the 

 corn kernel is low in 

 protein and mineral 

 matter, so important 

 for growth, corn 

 should not be the 

 sole feed for the 

 growing animal, or 

 the dair\' cow, but 

 should always be fed 

 with some other feed 

 that is high in these 

 important sub- 

 stances. Normal 

 growth is impossible 

 on an exclusive corn 

 ration. 



Corn may well 

 make up a part of 

 the rations of all of 

 our farm animals, 

 pro\'ided good judg- 

 ment is exercised in 

 the amounts and the proportions fed. For the dairy cow 

 from 20 per cent to 50 per cent of the ration may be made 

 up of com. For fattening steers it is practically indispen- 

 sable. Although there is a prevalent notion that corn is 

 not a good feed for horses, it has been found as effective as 



- Carcass of hog, fed on corn alone, and one 

 of hog fed on com and alfalfa. 



