Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-02-26


In winter, when pasture is not availa-
BILE, hogs will eat considerable amounts
Of clover or alfalfa hay if they can
get it and will be healthier and make
better gains for having it.
Another important quality in a feed
stuff Is Its palataDility. Stock will
make greater gains on feeds that they
like, even though they contain no
more nutritive material than those
| that are not so palatable. Closely re-
lated to palatability is succulence or
| juciness. Cows give Il large flow of
milk on pasture not SO much because
of its high feeding value. but because
of its succulence and palatability.
Stock of any kind will not make the
best use of their feed if given moth
ing but dry hay and grain.
! The most satisfactory means of pro-
viding succulent and palatable feed
during the winter is by the use of the
silo Silage has high feeding value
and is cheap, since from eight to
twelve tons can be raised on an acre.
1t finds its greatest use as feed for
dairy cows, but also makes prOfta
BILE addition to the ration Of nearly
all classes Of stock.
The most important point to conSid-
er in preparing ration is the rela-
tive proportion Of the different con-
stituents. Fats and carbohydrates
are interchangeable and can be con-
sidered together since they both go
to furnish heat and energy or to build
up animal fat. Neither Of these sub
stances, however. can take the place
of protein. since neither Of them con-
tains nitrogen. To build up the mus
) cles, organs and other parts of the
body which require this element con
siderable protein must be fed. The
ordinary feeds found ON the farm
contain too little protein in proportion
to the other substances. To secure
the best results a balanced ration
that Is, one in which the amount OF
protein is in the proper proportion tc
the amounts Of fats and carbohy
drates-must be fed.
1t can readily be seen that what Is 6
balanced ration for one class of stocl
may not be for another. Young calves
colts and pigs require more protein
and ash in their food than do mature
animals. A work horse needs large
amounts of fat and carbohydrates t
supply him with energy, but he ais
: needs considerable protein to repai
! his muscles. which wear out Yer.
rapidly. A fattening steer needs onl.
minimum amount of protein, sine
BE is neither growing nor using hi
muscles. A milk COW needs a grea
: deal of protein and ash to use in max
i ing milk, together with a liberia
S amount Of the other constituents. t
t supply energy and to make into but
ter fat A pregnant animal is In espe
cial need of protein and ash to use 1
building up the bones and flesh of 1t
offspring All animals need large
e quantities of the heat forming ell
S ments in the winter in order to kee
. the body warm.
!, Another important point. one thu
!. must not be lost sight of in preparln
q rations for any class of stock. is I'll
i cost. 1t makes no difference how
:, gestible. palatable or well balanced
y ration may be nor how rapid gains
# will produce, If those gains are put c
IS at too great an expense the feedir
/. operations will result in loss. For Il
last two years. for Instance, bran ar
shorts have been SO high in price TIL
e it is doubtful if they could be fed
J. profit. Bran produces large mi
e flow when fed to cows, but silage NJ
% clover hay are just as good and co
E only fraction as much.
re- The question of how much farm
is can afford to spend for concentrate
y, byproducts is always a perpleXil
lie one. Something is needed to balan
: the corn, which is the principal fe'
on most farms If nothing else is Il