MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIN-a 



feeding-stuffs contain, a feeding standard like that already 

 given will enable him to compound a ration, from the ma- 

 terials at his disposal, which shall supply his cows with the 

 sime amounts of digestible matters as were employed, on 

 the average, in the experiments from which that standard 

 was deduced. "When his cows are thus fed, though they 

 may not consume the same kind or weight of fodder as 

 was used in the experiments which he has taken for a 

 model, they will resorb into their systems the same amounts 

 of protein, fat, and carbhydrates, and will therefore be 

 equally w^ell nourished. 



The method of calculating rations in accordance with 

 these principles will form the topic of a subsequent chap- 

 ter; we are concerned here only with the nature and 

 utility of feeding standards. 



Tlie convenience of these standards as a means of ex- 

 pressing the results of experience and as a guide in the 

 compounding of rations is obvious. In the succeeding 

 chapters we shall occupy ourselves with a consideration of the 

 feeding standards for the various purposes for which stock 

 is kept, endeavoring to indicate the degree of eoniidence 

 which is to be placed in them and the principles in accoi'd- 

 ance with which they may be modified to suit individual 

 circumstances. 



In addition to the amount o£ digestible nutrients re- 

 quired, feeding standards usually prescribe approximately 

 the amount of total dry matter in the ration. This, 

 in connection wnth the amount of digestible matters, 

 informs us in regard to the volume of the ration, and 

 whether it contains larger or smaller quantities of coarse 

 or of concentrated fceding-stutfs. If the amount of 

 total dry matter is much in excess of the sum of the 

 digestible matters, it is obvious that a considerable portion 



