THE RATIONAL FEEDING OF DAIRY STOCK 139 



and all conditions. The quantity of food that can 

 be consumed to the best advantage must be deter- 

 mined experimentally by the feeder and should be 

 varied as occasion demands in order to give the best 

 results. Ordinarily a ration of from 7 to 10 pounds 

 of farm grains and mill feeds, with 18 to 25 pounds 

 of mixed coarse fodders, will supply approximately 

 the requisite amount of nutrients for the production 

 of milk. There is but little difference in the milk- 

 producing value of the different farm grains when 

 fed in mixed rations. For economical production, 

 as much of the digestible protein as possible should 

 be supplied in the coarse fodders, so as to reduce the 

 quantity of grains that are required for feeding 

 purposes. 



135. How to calculate a Ration. — The foods that 

 are to be combined to form the ration sliould be 

 selected on the basis of cost and composition. In 

 case corn fodder, clover hay, oats, corn, and mangels 

 are raised on the farm, these foods can be combined 

 to form a balanced ration either with or without any 

 commercial foods. In case it is desired to make a 

 ration of tliese foods with bran, the general state- 

 ments given in paragraph 134 as to quantities of 

 food should be noted. About 20 pounds of coarse 

 fodder, 10 to 12 pounds of grains, and 10 pounds of 

 mangels will form the roughage of a reasonably well- 

 balanced ration for a cow giving from 25 to 30 

 pounds of milk per day. The digestible nutrients 

 in 100 pounds of the foods combined are first noted. 



