=r 
* 
A STUDY OF RATIONS FED TO MILCH COWS. 59 
_ analyzed and their chemical composition is therefore known. 
The weights of digestible nutrients were obtained by the use 
of factors (digestion coefficients), as explained on page 46. 
The last column but one contains the nutritive ratio, and the 
last column gives the calculated fuel value of the digestible 
nutrients in the rations. 
As stated on page 44, it is possible to compare different 
rations by the quantities of digestible protein or flesh formers 
which they contain and the fuel value of their digestible nutri- 
ents. ‘The extremes of these rations are pointed out in the 
following table, by comparing the maximum and minimum of 
organic matter, protein, fuel value, and nutritive ratio of all 
the rations in each case: 

















Organic | Digestible Fuel Value of Nutritive 
Matter. | Protein. Digestible Ratio. 
Nutrients. 
Lbs. Lbs. Calories. I: 
Minimum, - - 20.5 135 28,600 4.5 
Maximum, - - 3207, 3.48 42,600 Li.3 
Average, - - 25.4 2.35 33,450 6.7 

DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS. 
The discussion which follows is in great measure a repe- 
tition of what has already appeared in the Reports of this 
Station for the years 1893 and 1894. ‘The reasons for this are 
two-fold: First, the subject of dairy feeding is such an 
important one that a constant repetition of the general princi- 
ples involved seems necessary; and secondly, the results 
obtained in the tests here reported accord quite closely with 
those of past years. 
The results brought out in such a study as the one here 
reported are tentative rather than final. This investigation 
was not undertaken with the expectation of obtaining startling 
facts, nor should we be warranted in drawing very definite 
conclusions from the tests. We do believe, however, that 
there is much of practical importance to be learned along this 
line of inquiry, and that the results herewith presented merit 
the careful attention of dairymen. ‘The question of the rela- 
tive economy of cattle foods is one that demands the careful 
consideration of our dairymen. ‘The experiments point out 
