


STANDARD RATIONS FOR DAIRY COWS. I29 
IN CONCLUSION. 
Ln the above discussion the following principles are urged: 
I. Profitable feeding re. Sane Yhe food be fitted to (a) the 
endividual peculiarities of the antnu.s and their especial demands 
Jor production, and (6) the cost of the food and value of the pro- 
ducts. The successful feeder will regulate his feeding by his ant- 
mals and the markets. To be successful he must understand both. 
2. A standard ration, to fit all cases, ts out of the question. 
Thus phystological standards must differ with differences in the 
animals fed and in the production required of them. Different 
breeds of steers or swine will respond differently to the food given 
them for fattening. Different breeds of cows and different cows 
of the same breed will differ even more widely in their demands 
of food for maintenance or for milk production. Formulas for 
profit must differ likewise, not only with the animals and the pro- 
duction required, but with prices of food and of products in differ- 
ent localities and seasons. There is no such thing as a ‘‘ best 
ration’ for milch cows or for animals of any other class. 
3. <Atthe same time formulas for feeding are very useful as 
general indications to be used tn connection with the feeder’s 
observation of his animals and the markets. : 
4. In feeding milch cows it makes a great difference whether 
the animals are yielding a large or a small amount of milk. A 
large milk yield requires a large supply of material to make casein, 
fat, and other compounds of the milk. From the physiological 
standpoint one chief essential ts abundant protein, 
5. Asa rule, liberal feeding of rations rich in protein has 
been found the most profitable where observations have been made 
by the Station in Connecticut. This ts especially true when the 
value of the manure ts taken into account. 
6. The rations here given represent attempts to indicate mix- 
tures of feeding stuffs of such kinds, amounts, and costs as expert- 
ence of the Station implies to be advantageous for Connecticut 
dairymen. Like the rations previously suggested by the Station 
they are tentative suggestions and, of course, open to revision and 
zmprovement., 
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