CALCULATION OF RATIONS 73 
The ration as given might be improved by feeding a concentrate, 
like cotton-seed meal, in the place of oil meal. This feed contains 
still more digestible protein than the linseed meal, viz., 37.6 per cent, 
and, by substituting 2 pounds of it for the linseed meal, the digestible 
protein of the ration would be raised to nearly the requirements of 
the standard. It would make a less palatable ration for cows, how- 
ever, and in most parts of the country would render it somewhat 
more expensive. 
Another change in the ration that would bring it closer to the 
standard in digestible protein and nutritive ratio would be to replace 
one-half of the wheat bran by middlings, or one-half of the corn meal 
by oats or barley. The desirability of making these changes would 
depend mainly on the cost of the various feeds. The nutritive effect 
of the ration would not be likely to be materially influenced by the 
changes suggested, except that it is, in general, advisable to feed 
a mixture of several feeds to dairy cows and heavy-producing animals 
rather than only one or two, as it will increase the palatability of 
the ration and- stimulate the appetite. The preceding ration is, 
however, satisfactory as given and will produce good results “ at the 
pail.” 
Nutritive Ratio.— We notice that the nutritive ratio of the ration 
given is 1:6.5 instead of 1: 5.6, as required by the standard. It 
follows from what has been said, however, that it is not important 
to bring the nutritive ratio closer than this to the standard. 
Up to recent times a definite nutritive ratio was considered 
important for the specific purpose of feeding in view; e¢.g., 1: 5.4 was 
the required ratio for milch cows, according to the original Wolff 
(German) standard, and it was not deemed advisable to vary greatly 
from this ratio. Investigations conducted since the publication of the 
Wolfft-Lehmann standard have shown, however, that, given a certain 
minimum of digestible protein in a ration, its exact nutritive ratio is 
of no great importance ; but a liberal supply of total digestible matter 
in a ration is important, and a nutritive ratio of 1:7, or even wider, 
may prove nearly as efficient for feeding dairy cows as a narrow 
ration, provided the former ration furnishes a more abundant supply 
of digestible nutrients. This applies with special force to fattening 
animals,! but holds good also in the case of dairy cows and cther 
animals to which it was formerly considered necessary to supply 
rations of especially narrow nutritive ratios in order to secure a 
large and economical production. 
1See Kellner, Landw. Versuchs-Stationen, vol. 53, pp. 1-474. 
