The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-05-21
fertIIiZer:

Nutritive ratio in the above table,
means the ratio of albuminoids to car
bo-hydrates, including the fats. In in
Guiding the fats, however, one pound
of that is estimated as being equal to
two of the true carbohydrates, as it is
twice as productive of heat. The fig
ures representing the value are not the
market prices, but simply a compare
tive set of figures.
1t will be seen that flax-seed has
large amount of oil which, doubled and
added to the carbohydrates, make it
very rich in carbOnaceOus or fattening
material. and it also has quite large
amount of albuminoids, thus making
it the most valuable food in the list,
taking all the nutrients into account.
Taking enough fax seed to make one
hundred pounds of linseed-cake and
extract the oil. the proportion of carbo-
hydrates is much decreased, and the
albuminoids are increased, but the
total amount of nutrients is reduced
and hence the value likewise. By
comparing fiaX-seed and the cake with
corn, it is seen that they have more of
all the digestible nutrients than has the
latter, and consequently a greater
value as stock food.
A1OWCNcIs III tSlluldllIR JIie NdIu6 VI
any one food, the feeder must do more
than determine its value by itself, for,
as a rule, by combining with other
foods, its worth can be largely in
creased. Also, the value of any one
food depends largely on the purpose
for which it is fed.
Stock cattle need about one pound
of digestible aIbuminoids or flesh
makers. to twelve of carbohydrates
Gncluding fats) or fattening food, for
each 1000 pounds of animal per dav.
Growing cattle a year old, need one
pound to seven; fattening cattle 1 to
5.5; milch cows l to "a; sheep, 1 to 6;
pigs, 1 to 3.
Now by looking at the table we see
that flaX-seed has one pound of albu-
minoids to 40 carbohydrates. Lin
seed-cake one pound to only two of
the carbohydrates In both cases
there is more albuminOids than are ac-
tually needed to meet the wants of al
most all animals, and very much
more than some need. If then one
should feed with either one of these
alone he would do one of two things
If he could feed as much of say the oil
cake as would furnish all the carbo-
hydrates as a steer would need there
would be more of the albuminoids
than he could use and it would simply
pass through him and be found in the
manure. Should the animal be fed
only as much as would furnish what
albuminOids were wanted then he
would not get enough carbohydrates
and would not thrive.
Now look at the figures opposite DO
tatoes. It will be seen that 100 pounds
of these have but a small amount of
nutrients of any kind, but vet have 10. 6
pounds of carbohydrates to one of al
buminOids, veTv much less of the latter
than most animals require. Should
these be fed alone, the reverse of what
would happen in the other case would
be the result In either case food
would be wasted.
Now the remedy seems obvious. If
the feeder will take two foods, one
having an excess of carbohydrates and
the other of albuminoids. by combining
the two in the proper proportion a
better-balanced food is made; that is,
one that meets the wants of the animal
without waste. 1t is in this way that
such concentrated foods as oil cake and
cotton seed meal should be used. Over
rich in albuminOids they can not be fed
alone to animals without injury; but
fed with hay, straw, roots and other
foods having an excess of carbOnaceOus
material, they will not only give to the
animal their full value but also make
the poorer foods much more valuable.
Flax-seed from which the oil has not
been extracted is too rich in oil to be
of very general value as a combination
food. However, a small portion is
sometimes quite useful. In feeding
calves on skim-milk little boiled flax
seed can be added with excellent re-
suits, partly from its nutritive and
partly from its medicinal effect. A
very little fiax-seed added to the ration
of any animal will insure a smooth,
glossy coat of hair oInaG9's Rural