“For a young animal (cattle) gradually decrease the proportion of protein until at the age of two years the proportions are similar to those for the fattening steer, but less in quantity. A pig two to three months old needs feeds containing seven and one-half pounds of protein to each thirty pounds of carbohydrates and fat, while a year-old pig needs seven and one-half pounds of protein to each forty-eight pounds of carbohydrates and fat. Feeds containing a greater proportion of protein than called for by these standards can be fed, because protein can take the place of the other materials. Carbohydrates and fat cannot take the place of protein, however, and no matter in how large quantities they may be fed, if protein is lacking, the growth or gain will be less. “The weak point in feeding is that the average rations are greatly deficient in protein, and have too much carbohydrates and fat. Every feeder knows that good pasturage produces rapid growth, good gains, and abundant milk yields. It furnishes nutriment in the proportion of three pounds of protein, twelve pounds of carbohydrates, and one-half pound of fat. The proportions in some of our feeds in pounds per 100 pounds of feed, are as follows: -----------+-------+--------+----- | | Carbo- | |Protein|hydrates| Fat -----------+-------+--------+----- Corn | 7.8 | 66.7 | 1.6 Kafir-corn | 7.8 | 57.1 | 2.7 Prairie hay| 3.5 | 41.8 | 1.4 Corn fodder| 2.0 | 33.2 | 0.6 Sorghum hay| 2.4 | 40.6 | 1.2 -----------+-------+--------+----- “It will be seen that none of these contain a sufficient proportion of protein to secure best results, and all combinations of these feeds will have the same defect. “Some feeds have too great a proportion of protein to be fed alone, as shown below, the figures indicating pounds per 100 pounds of feed: -----------------+-------+--------+------ | | Carbo- | |Protein|hydrates| Fat -----------------+-------+--------+------ Alfalfa hay | 10.6 | 37.3 | 1.4 Gluten-meal | 31.1 | 43.9 | 4.8 Linseed-oil meal | 28.8 | 32.8 | 7.1 Cottonseed-meal | 37.0 | 16.5 | 12.6 Soy-beans | 39.6 | 22.3 | 14.4 -----------------+-------+--------+------ “Making a balanced ration is combining the feeds deficient in protein with those having an excess of it, to make a ration which will contain the right proportions for the animals fed.” VARIATIONS IN ANALYSIS