MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDma 433 



and the richest fodder which can profitably be given is 

 that which just fcuffices to ensure that maximum yield. 



On the other hand, the least amount of fodder which 

 can safely be given is that which maintains a moderate 

 flow of milk without drawing on the materials of the 

 body. 



Between these two limits the choice of fodder will be 

 determined largely by financial considerations. When 

 fodder is expensive and the price of milk is low, a poorer 

 fodder than that called for by Wolft's standard might be 

 m place, such as would result from decreasing the digest- 

 ible protein of the ration while leaving the amount of 

 digestible oarbhydrates about the same. If oil cake were 

 used, the change might be eifected very simply by decreas- 

 ing the quantity of this feeding-stuff. On the otlier hand, 

 when fodder is cheap and the price of milk is hisrh, it mii^^ht 

 be desirable to feed more richly than is indicated by the 

 standard. This might be done by increasing the amount of 

 digestible protein by the addition of some highly nitroge- 

 nous bye-fodder ; but the amount of non-nitrogenous nutri- 

 ents should be somewhat increased at the same time, in 

 order that the nutritive ratio may not be too nan-ow. 



In general, a given increase in the protein of the fodder 

 produces a less effect on the amount of milk the nearer we 

 approach to the maximum yield possible. Thus, if the 

 addition of a pound of oil cake to a ration causes an in- 

 crease of a quart per day in the amount of milk obtained, 

 the addition of a second pound will cause a less gain, per- 

 haps not more than a pint, while a third pound might cause 

 hardly any gain. Moreover, the individuality of the ani- 

 mal will have a considerable influence on the return ob- 

 tained from an increase of the fodder, and consequently on 

 the determination of the most profitable ration. 



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