THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PROPER FEEDING 181 



tein to every 4.3 pounds of carbohydrates. Again, the 

 ratio for corn is 1 : 10.4, that is, one pound of protein to 

 every 10.4 pounds of carbohydrates. All books on this 

 subject carry tables giving the constituents of the com- 

 mon feed stuffs and the nutritive ratio for each. 



Now standards of feeding have been established that 

 indicate for different kinds of animals the right propor- 

 tion or ratio in their diet of proteins and carbohydrates. 

 For instance, the right ratio for a milking animal is about 

 one pound of protein for every 5.7 pounds of carbohy- 

 drates, or 1 : 5.7. For a young, growing animal, 1 : 4.5; 

 fora working horse, 1 : 7, etc. The total amount of food 

 is determined by the body weight, the rate of growth, 

 the amount of milk produced, etc. ^ -- 



A study of these tables, and an endeavor to apply 

 them to one's own feeding problems is the most valuable 

 method possible for producing the best results from the 

 smallest possible expenditure for feed. But even with- 

 out this exact study and data, there are some general 

 principles which everyone should bear in mind, and which 

 no one can safely violate. 



For a Milking Doe. — For instance, the proper ration 

 for a milking animal, as we have said, is 1 : 5.7. Say you 

 are feeding her alfalfa hay, whose ratio is 1 : 4.3. In 

 order to bring up the proportion of carbohydrates, which 

 is too low for her in alfalfa alone, you should look for 



