Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-03


In winter, when pasture is not availa-
Bile, hogs will eat considerable amounts
of clover or alfalfa hay if they can
get 1t and will be healthier and make
better gains for having it.
Another important quality in feed
stuff is its palatability. 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 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
( Giles, 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 q balanced ration
| that is, one in which the amount of
| protein is III the proper proportion to
! the amounts of fats and carbohy.
! drates-must be fed.
1t can readily be seen that what is a
balanced ration for one class Of stock
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 to
supply him with energy, but he also
needs considerable protein to repair
bis muscles, which wear out very
rapidly. A fattening steer needs only
minimum amount Of protein, since
he is neither growing nor using his
muscles. A milk COW needs great
deal of protein and ash to use in max
ing milk, together with a liberia
amount OF the other constituents, tt
supply energy and to make into but
ter fat. A pregnant animal is in espe
cial need of protein and ash to use il
building up the bones and flesh Of its
offspring. All animals need larger
quantities of the heat forming ele
ments in the winter in order to kee,
) the body warm.
Another important point, one tina
must not be lost sight Of in preparin,
rations for any class Of stock is tn,
cost. 1t makes no difference how di
, gestible. pnlatable or well balanced
!, ration may be nor how rapid gains /
, will produce, II those gains are put o.
at too great an expense the feedin
operations will result in loss. For til
!; last two years, for instance, bran an,
shorts have been SO high in price tina
> 1t is doubtful II they could be fed a
j q profit. Bran produces large mil
' dow when fed to COWS, but silage an,
4 clover hay are just as good and cos
only fraction as much.
The question Of how much farme
can afford to spend for concentrates
byprodpcts = Always perplexin
one. Something is needed to balanc
'the CORN which IS the principal Tee
& Il - - :, -