462 MANTTAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIKG. 



over-feeding and to various diseases than wlien the fodder 

 is poorer in protein. For tlie sake of greater security it 

 may oftentimes be advisable to reduce the amount of 

 albunnnoids somewhat from that given in the standards, 

 and to begin at once with a nutritive ratio of 1 : 4.5 or 1 : 6, 

 widening it gradually after the fifth or sixth month till it 

 reaches 1 : 0.5. 



Another and very important point to be considered in 

 the use of these narrow nutritive ratios is that of cost. 

 The table on page 460 shows that although a given increase 

 in weight was produced with the least fodder when that 

 fodder had a narrow nutritive ratio, the quantity of jjto- 

 tein required was in every case greater, while that of the 

 carbhydrates was correspondingly less. As a general rule 

 feeding-stuffs rich in protein, such as are necessary in com- 

 pounding a ration having a narrow mitritive ratio, are 

 rather costly, while the carbhydrates are comparatively 

 cheap. The less cost of a ration having a wide nutritive 

 ratio might, then, render its use more economical, in spite 

 of the larger amount of it required to produce a given 

 increase in weight. All these points, as well as practical 

 considerations concerning the most Suitable feeding-stuffs, 

 must bo taken account of in fixing on the most suitable 

 ration for a particular case, and they obviously offer a wide 

 field for the exercise of intelligence and good judgment. 



f 5. Inobganio Nutihents. 



Importance.— Hitherto we have considered only the 

 demands of various animals for the several organic nutri- 

 ents. The greater quantity of these renders their impor- 

 tance more obvious, but at the same time the mineral 

 ingredients of feeding-stuffs are no less essential, as has 



