Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-16
Different Terms
Used by Farmers
Certain Expressions Used in
Discussing Subject of Feed
Should Be Understood.

Every farmer should know the
meaning of certain terms commonly
used in discussing the subject Of feed
ing. This is essential for the proper
understanding Of the literature relat-
ing to the subject and for the intel
ligent application of its recommends
lions to feeding practice.
In discussing the chemical compo-
sition of feeds the terms protein, car
bohy drates, fat, nitrOgenfree extract,
crude fiber and ash are used. These
terms are explained briefly by w. D..
Salmon, assistant animal husbandman
of the Clemson college.
Protein-This is complex nitro
gen-containing compound. Roughly
the amount Of nitrogen in a feed
multiplied by 6.25 gives the amount
of crude protein. Protein is essen
tial for the production of lean meat,
milk, the white Of egg, connective
tissue, skin, hair, horn and hoof.
Reproduction and growth of the ami
NAL body are impossible without pro-
TEN. Hence larger amounts OF this
nutrient are required for young
growing animals than for mature ami
mails. although the. latter must have
some protein in the feed to maintain
the normal body functions. The chief
source of this compound for live stock
feeding are cOttonseed meal, Hnseed
oil meal, soy beans, or soy bean meal,
peanut meal, velvet beans, tankage,
fish meal blood meal, skim milk, and
alfalfa or clover hay. The green for
age crops and grasses while young and
tender are also important sources.
carbohydrates. These are COM
pounds sof carbon, hydrogen and oxy-
gen. They furnish heat to keep the
body warm and energy for doing work.
ANY surplus is converted into animal
fat. The carbohydrates are the most
important nutrients for fattening ami
mails. The chief sources are starches
and sugars in the grains and the crude
fiber of the roughages. Some feeds
high in carbohydrates are corn, rice
meal, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes,
sorghum and timothy hay.
Fats.-The composition OF fats re-
sembles that of the carbohydrates and
they are used for the same purpose by
the animal. They furnish 2.25 times
as much energy per unit as the carbo-
hydrates. The chief sources are the
grains, and leguminous seeds-soy
beans. peanuts and velvet beans. Some
of the by-products like tankage, coco
nut meal, peanut cake, sunfower seed
cake, and oil meal. are rather high IN
fat.
Nitroqen-Free Extracts.-This en-
braces everything in the carbohy-
drates except fiber. The term has at
times led to confusion by people think
ing it meant nitrogen-carrying COM
pounds, whereas it meant compounds
carrying nO nitrogen.
Crude Fiber.--This is the woody por-
ton Of a feedstuff. 1t is a carDohy-
| drate. but it is less digestible and has
q lower nutritive value than the other
constituents of feeds. Certain forms
4 of fiber are almost entirely indigestible
and are used only as filters in feeds.
The roughages are all high in fiber.
Ash or Mineral Matter-Ash is used
In building bone and in many OF the
life processes. The minerals most
likely to be deficient in the rations OF
farm animals are calcium Ihme),
phosphorus and common salt. The le-
gume hays-clover, alfalfa, soy beam
and cowpea-are rich in calcium
Wheat bran is high in phosphorus
Tankage, fish meal, and skim milk con-
tain both calcium and phosphorus IN
considerable quantities.