PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 

 Constructing a Ration 



Balanced rations are determined by the ratio existing 

 between the protein content of the ration and the starch, sugar 

 and fat (nutrient carbohydrate). This ratio is called the 

 nutritive ratio. 



For example, a balanced ration for growing chicks requires 

 that the starch, sugar and fat in the combination of feeds 



Dinner time in the poultry yard 



should be four and one-half times greater in weight than the 

 protein. The nutritive ratio therefore is 1 :43^. 



To illustrate further, in a certain combination of feeds 

 which furnish a balanced ration for growing chicks it is found 

 that there are 10 pounds of protein and 45 pounds of starch, 

 sugar and fat. The ratio between the two is therefore 10 : 45. 

 Reducing this by dividing the ratio by 10, we get a nutritive 

 ratio of 1 : 4.5. 



To illustrate further, in a certain combination of feeds 

 ratio should be approximately 1 : 5. It may be a little more 

 or a little less. If the nutrients are supplied in that ratio the 



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