RATION FOR DAIRY CATTLE.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 51, 19 May 1910, Page 3

RATION FOR DAIRY CATTLE.

To begin with, we must have 6 foundation for the ration, and this may consist of hay, corn-fodder, sorghum, or straw. In the case ol cattle or sheep, we take, for each animal, about per cent, of its live weight in this dry fodder. Now, to this fodder wo must add so much grain or other concentrated food as will bring the total to the required standard of quantity and quality, We will suppose that a dairyman wishes to compound a ration for hi£ cows. The nutritive value of sorghum is 1 to 16, but the requirements of a cow will be met by a much narrower ration—viz., 1 to 5.4. Assuming that the cow weighs 800 lb., we have lor the requirements of such cow organic matter, 19.20 lb. t containing protein, 2.0 lb. ; carbohydrates, 10 lb. ; fat, 0.32 lb. She will receive 5 per cent, of her weight in green sorghum daily—4o lb.—the dry matter of which quantity is 9.20 lb. Now to supply the needed protein or albuminoid and carbo-hydrates, 13 lb. of bran are needed, supplying 10.71 lb. of drj matter, 1.63 lb. of protein, 5.73 lb. of carbo-hydrates, and 0.37 lb. of fat, the sorghum furnishing, besides 9.2 C lb. of dry matter. 0.32 lb. of protein, 4.50 lb. of carbo-hydrates, and O.IG lb. of fat. This ration contains as few constituents as possible, and is given because farmers generally are not in a position to make up rations having a number of ingredients. Following, however, are , a number of rations suitable for cows 1. Sugarcane tops, 40 lb. t ; bran, 9 lb. ; cotton seed meal, 4 lb. 2. Cowpea vines (green), 45 lb ; maize (ground), 10 lb. ; brewers’ grains, 20 lb. 3. Sweet potatoes, 15 lb. ; lucerne hay, 10 lb. ; bran, 10 lb. 4. Maize silage, 40 lb. ; lucerne hay, 10 lb. ; wheat bran, 6 lb. ; maize meal, 3 lb. 5. Fodder maize, 20 lb. ; hay, 6 lb oats, 4 lb. ; shorts, 4 lb. ; off meal, 2 lb. 6. Maizo silage, 50 lb. ; maize stover, 6 lb. ; oats, 6 lb.malt sprouts, 4 lb. ; maize meal, 2 lb. 7. Lucerne silage, 30 lb. ; hay, 15 lb. ; wheat bran, 3 lb. ; maize meal, 3 lb. ; cotton seed me*l, 2 lb. 8. Panieum lmy. 10 lb. ; kicsnu' bay, 10 11). ; wheat bran, 6 lb. ; oats, 6 lb. 9. Fodder maiz*, 20 !b. ; luu»rn4 hay, 10 lb, ; oats, 6 lb. ; r4J meal. 3 lb. The total cost of 1,2, and 3 In set down at la. Id. respectively, bat this is clearly arbitrary, ar-d the cost must be taken for vh&t it i? worth, since thero are no maritzt prices e*t upon sugarcane tops end cowpea vines, and the price cf maize ranges from 2*. to 4s. Gd. per bushel,,—| Protein or Albuminoids.—Under thece names are included all the nitrogenous substances of tho plant. In the animal, they undergo transformation Into muscle, hair, horns, the solid matter of the blood and nerves, the card (caceine) of milk, and the white of egg, the latter being almost pure albuminoid. All the class of leguminous plants, such as clovers lucerne, cowpeas, etc., are, In plant and seed, rich in albuminoids. The food that is richest in these has the largest feeding value.

Carbo-hydrates.—This is a term to denote the sugars, starches, gums, and similar substances in feeding stuffs. Nitrogen free extract is also sometimes used as synonymous with sugars and starches. The carbo-hy-drates constitute the greatest portion of the dry substance in feeding stuffs.