MATSfUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIKG. 473 



An exact correspondence with tlie standard need not be 

 sought, and, indeed, it is evident from the foregoing para- 

 graphs that such a correspondence, if attained, would be 

 more apparent than real. The amount of non-nitrogenous 

 nutrients may vary more than that of the protein, and tlie 

 exact quantity of fat, in particular, is a matter of no special 

 impoi:tance, provided too much is not fed. As a general 

 rule, it is advisable to give too much rather than too little 

 protein, both to ensure a sufficient supply of this important 

 nutrient and for the reasons stated on pp. 280-283. 



In practice, of course, regard must be had to individual 

 peculiarities of the animals, as well as to differences in 

 weight. The most satisfactory plan would probably be to 

 weigh out each day a sufficient supply for all the cattle 

 which receive the ration, and to distribute this amount 

 among the animals according to their requirements. As. a 

 matter of course the animals must be carefully observed, 

 and their supply of food modified according to the indica- 

 tions thus obtained. The feeding standards, as already 

 said, are not inflexible rules, to be blindly followed, birt 

 guides and indications which must be intelligently adapted 

 to local and individual circumstances. 



The example given above serves to illustrate the manner 



of calculating rations in accordance with a feeding sfcandai^ 



The chief points there given may be summed up in, the 



following 



* 

 Rules for the Calculation of Rations 



1. The composition of the fodders used is either a^er- 

 tained by analysis or estimated from the table of the mm- 

 position of feeding-stuffs. 



2. Tubers and roots are considei-ed to be wholly di- 

 gestible. 



