Graham guardian., 1908-02-14

WutI uuu iNN "' y ~ =
say i, owes its superior value to
its succuleuce, but that is on y ha 1
the truth. 1t is not because it's
soft, green and watery that 1T has
hts value, but rather because OF
that sueculent condition it is very
easily digested. Is it not fact
that our farm crops, our grasses,
corn, soiIipg grain crops, ensilage,
etc, which invariably prove our
best and cheapest milk making
foods, are deficient in protein as
measured by the feeding tables?
We all know that an excess of pro-
tein concentrates is dangerous.
Beyond certain limit-and every
COW has her own individual limit
their use is neither profitable
nor safe. The COW was made to
consume coarse folders Her
whole physical anatomy proves
this so; she needs to eat her food
and then to remasticate and rc-eat
it. She needs only little food in
a concentrated form, and what
little she gets should plways be fed
in connection with TIE coarser
folders.
Professor Hackers experiments
are attracting much deserved at
tention. He seems to have logi-
cally shown, If indeed he has not
clearly proved, that our ideas Of
feeding lave been wrong. He
seems to have demonstrated that
we have been building house Of
theoretical knowledge on founda-
tion of sandy error. 1t it be true.
as clam ed, that he has demon
rated that all the old feeding
standards on which we have based
our practice are faulty to an extent
that makes them worthless, then
it follows that we have been pay
ing out lot of good money for
protein concentrates which have
never paid us back their first cosl,
10 say nothing of profit. l be-
licve it to be true, as Brother Nc.
Keen says, that "the COW holds the
key to successful dmryiug, and
heavy protein feeding Is neither
necessary nor saf'."
Of course, some protein ls nee
essary and must be supplied, but
it seems now as though we nigh 81
get nearly, if MT quite, enough
from the regular farm crops ana
thus save the vast sums that have
been spen, for costly protein cen
centrates. The mystery surround
ing the milk making tunciions of
the COW may never be solved, aut
we have much encouragementtrom
knowing that wc are likely to get
larger yields at lower cost by let
tnf go Of some,ofour past nntIons
and adopting some standard Of
feeding which calls upon the farm
to furnish the supply in "a palntable
and easily digcstcd form withou,
the aid Of large quantities of cost
ly protein concentrates.
l wish to lay special emphasis
on the Importance of having the
food in an easily digestihle con
dilion, as that has been too much
overlooked by most feeders. Ii
requires large amount OF energy
TO keep up the work OF the milk
forming functions Of the COW, and
he cannot work at her best if she |
has to use up her nerve force in
her food. Let us i'm
prove along natural lines wherever
possible as that is always the line
of least resistance If we can feed
less protein in purchased food and
more home gfown products, then
we should know it aud do it. If
a variety to create an appetite and |
an abundance to satisfy thal APP |
petite is the true d. ctcine OF prof
table dairying, then we hold the
solution Of the problem IN orr own
keeping
Now is good time to study
these questions and see if it is not
possible to lear0 some new thiugs,
and perhaps. also unlearn some
things we now think we know
Let us study the COW and the m l.
kets from an economic poiat Of
view, and then study ourselves,
for We may have unconsciouslY (
been protein mad.-E G. Dow IN
n Y Tribune armer.