The Opelousas courier., 1903-03-07
A Talk on Farm Rationa.

"A Talk on Farm Rat1onas
Many products of farms are sent
away, and often come back again to be
used on the very places upon which
they were grown. The farmer sells
his wheat and buys the bran therefrcm
to be used as food for stock. The va
ri0us experiment stations have given
special attention. to these feeding
stuffs during the past 10 years, and
affirm that it is one of the most inn
portant matters affecting the interests
of farmers, the New Jersey station hay
ing issued a special bulletin on the
subject. The purchase of feeds, either
to supplement homegrown produce or
to provide the entire amount of con-
centrates needed; requires that care
should be exercised in order to obtain
the most economical results. 1t is
now fully recognized that feeds rich in
protein should be added to the home
grown products if they are to be util-
lied to the best advantage, since, I'M
der average conditions, the crops
grown Of both grain and straw contain
SO great an excess Of the carbohy-
drates, Or starchy substances, as to
make their exclusive use wasteful. The
feeds that are best adapted to this end
those rich in protein as a rule
consist of residues from the manufac-
lures Of some specific product-from
the seed Of grain, as, for example, or
nil from tho n0ttHncnn6 and tho fay,
seed, starch or sugar from corn, beer
from barley and -four from wheat, rye
and b~Uckwheat. All of these feeds,
which include cotton seed meal, liL.seed
meal, dried brewers grains, the gluten
meals and feeds, and the various kinds
of brans and middlings, are very much
richer in the compound protein than
the original seeds or grains, because
the oil, starch, ETC., extracted leave the
substances rich in protein.
In order that valuable information
may be furnished the farmers con-
corning the protein foods offered for
sale the station sampled and analysed
the stock of different dealers, begin
ming as far back as 1885, which showed
that, as a whole, they were of average
good quality. A study Of the compo~
sition and value of dried brewers
grains showed the products to be rich
in the compound protein, being an ex-
cellent food for horses as a substitute
for oats, and a much more satisfactory
product for dairy COWS than the wet
grains. In regard to the gluten meals
or feeds it was shown that, while all
were derived from corn, there were
four distinct elasses-first, the gluten
feeds, which consisted of the entire
residue. Including the hull, skin ard
germ; second, the gluten meals, which
did not contain the hull Or germ, and,
therefore, were still richer in protein
than the feeds; third, the corn oil
meals and cake, which consisted of
pressed corn, and were proportionately
richer in tat than the feeds or meals;
and fourth, the corn bIans and corn
germs, which consisted chiefly of the
hulls and germs, and were poorer in
both fat and protein than the others.
Buyers should aim to purchase from
reliable parties, although investiga-
ton shows that but little direct adul-
teration has been attempted, but there
are variations in the quality of foods
of the same name which may place an
inexperienced buyer at a disadvantage.
Various tables, showing the average
protein and its value, have been pub
lished, recommending that all such
foods should be sold under a guaran-
tee, the farmers, when buying feeds,
to select those which furnish the pro-
tean the cheapest, as this is the SUBJ
stance desired more than any other
when the feeds are purchased for the
purpose Of enriching the rations made
from homegrown produce. While it
is impossible to obtain feeds which do
not contain or less of the other
compounds-fat and carbohydrates
the purchase is virtually that of pro-
tein. Protein foods, however, must be
used with care. Cottonseed meal, glu-
ten meal, linseed meal and gluten feed
may be fed in larger amounts than
some of the others. The Chicago glu-
ten and the cottonseed and linseed
meals should be used in rations for
dairy cows not to exceed two to three
pounds per day. A comparison of
their composition shows that the glu-
ten meals, at an average cost of $18.75
per ton, furnish the protein at a less
cost than any others, while c%ottonseed
meal, at an average cost OF $3.50,
third in order, and linseed meal fourth,
at an average cost per ton of $28.85.
Other points, however, should be con-
sidered, such as their general adapta-
bility and their content of mineral con-
.stituents, and if these are taken into
account ~cottonseed meal come@hrst,
linseed meal second, gluten meal third
and gluten feed fourth, much depend
ing, however, upon the prevailing mar
ket prices at time Of purchasing, as
prices Observation-Disclosures Record.
A Wary Youngster.