166 ‘DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 
Corn Proteins.—The proteins of corn, according to Osborne, 
are composed of about 40 per cent zein (a characteristic alcohol- 
soluble protein), 30 per cent glutelin, 22 per cent albumen, globu- 
lin and proteose, and 6 per cent protein insoluble in alkali.? While 
little is known so far regarding the specific nutritive properties of 
the different protein substances, it seems evident that the special 
corn proteins possess important advantages over those of the wheat 
or the.oat plant. Investigations conducted during a series of years 
at the Wisconsin station have shown that corn is the only one of the 
three cereals which can properly nourish dairy cows for long periods 
and keep them in a strong, healthy condition so that they will give 
birth to normally-developed, vigorous calves.? It has not been 
established that this difference in the nutritive effects of the three 
plants fed by themselves is due to differences in the composition 
of the protein compounds, but, with our present incomplete knowl- 
edge of this subject, it seems most likely that the phenomena brought 
to light in the important investigations referred to must be ex- 
plained by differences in the inner constitution of the proteins in 
these crops. 
Oats are a highly-prized feed for farm animals, especially horses, 
cows, sheep, and young stock. Next to corn, they are the most 
important cereal for feeding livestock in the United States. Their 
cost frequently makes them rather expensive for feeding other 
stock than horses, but, when not too costly, there is no better con- 
centrated feed for the animals mentioned. Oats vary greatly in 
their percentage of hulls; a good quality of oats contains, on the 
average, about 30 per cent hulls, while light oats may contain con- 
siderably over 40 per cent hulls (or 16 per cent fiber). Oats con- 
tain more fiber and protein and nearly as much fat as corn, as will 
be seen from the analyses given below: , 
Composition of Oats and Oat Hulls, in Per Cent 
Digestible 
Protein Fat Fiber Ash — Carbo- 
Protein hydrates 
and fat 
ORES ispecies ces 11.4 4.8 10.8 3.2 8.8 58.9 
Oat hulls...... 3.4 1.3 30.7 6.7 1.3 39.9 
Science, 1913,-p. 185; Journal Biological Chemistry, 1913, xxxi, No. 2. 
* Wisconsin Research Bulletin 17. 
