The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-25
: Varieties Of Foed for stock.


miliar with the terms now used to clas-
sify the different qualities Of food for
stock, for they do not take kindly to
such expressions as ''albuminoids, ~
'.carbo -hydrates, y etc. Yet, after all, the
modes of expression are simple and en-
body nearly all the constituent ele-
ments that enter into foods grown upon
the farm for stock feeding Some foods
are rat producing. such as corn, while
others promote the development of
muscle. bone and nerves, such as clover.
All foods are classified under appropri-
ate heads, each ranking in proportion
to its nitrogen, carbon and mineral ash.
Thus, in order to arrange together those
foods that are heterogeneous or MUSCLE
producing, the term .'albuminoids' is
employed because the nitrogen is nearly
always in combination in the shape of
albumen. The carbohydrates, - or
heat producing substances are those
rich in starch and sugar, and as starch
and sugar both contain large proper
ton of carbon, and also large quantities
of oxygen and hydrogen (water), the
| term applied illustrates the value of the
food as well as its composition. The
base of all the heterogeneous foods is pro-
tein. When we know that certain foods
contain tibrin, gelatin, albumenor case
in. which are found in all animal and
vegetable organizations, the fact that
nitrogen is present is made plain, be-
| cause that element is necessary in such
substances; and when we understand
that foods contain starch, gum, sugar
and oils, is apparent that they must
of necessity contain carbon.
Infeeding to animals the farmer, BY
his knowledge of the difference between
fiesh-forming foods and those that form
fat, is enabledt to SO combine the differ
emit foods as to provide for all. their
wants. Knowing that the 'albuminoids'
or heterogeneous foods produce muscle
clean meat) and milk. in order to allow
for heat and fat he must balance the
foods for the purpose of avoiding toe
much of the one Kind aud not enough Of
the other. On an average the proper
ton Of heterogeneous food to the carbon
aceous, is rs one to six; or rath.
er he should add six times rs
much of the carbonaceous as he doe:
of the heterogeneous. The conditions
however affect the proportions; for i
an animal is highly exercised, as is thu
case with working horses, the nitrogen
may be increased and the carbon di
minished; but if the weather is verl
cold, the proportion of carbonaceou'
matter, on the contrary, should be in
creased. BY knowledge of the com
position of different foods, the farmer
who feeds for milk will regulate thu
material allowed to his animals accord
ing to its quality and not quantity, "a
is frequently the case In fattening BIZ
| animals he will use the fat1formin.
foods. allowing only SO much nitroge
nous matter as may be necessary TO
the existence of the animal. SD
| 1t is also economical to feed only 70
much as may be required. Iftco mucl
carbonaceous material be fed to an ami
imal the excess will be a loss, for tn
reason that the animal will assimilat
and appropriate only the actual amour
necessary for the purposes required b
the system; and even when, the farme
feeds literally of carbonaeeous materia
he will starve his animals If they do no
receive heterogeneous food. Hence'fw
often notice that on some farms wher
the stock is literally pro vided with Gel
tain kinds ofsfootf that the animals ar
not thrifty. the young ones donot grow
and the farmer is annoyed at the ur
satisfactory results Of what he suppose
is good management, when the caus
is lack Of perhaps only . single ele
! ment, which, in connection with q les
quantity of the kind of food given
would produce radical change.
1t is important then. in order TO d.
rive the best results from feeding an
mails, that the farmer thoroukhfyu
derstand the quality Of the batefis
used. Its feeding value depends upo
the proportion Of those elements be.
adapted to the purposes in view, an
unless . perfect knowledge OF the con
: position of feeding stul1s Is gained b
the farmer he VIII feed at : loss %
| deriv6 but little benefit from his stool
Farm, Field and FYresjde,