Bulletin 142, Dairying in Florida


feeding can be reduced somewhat by changing the proportion
of the feeds used. For instance, some dairymen use bran and
cottonseed meal in equal portions by weight. Feeding cotton-
seed meal and bran in the ratio of 1 to 3 should give as good
results, and at less cost.
 The bodies of animals, as well as animal products, are made
up mainly of the following named substances: water, ash, pro-
tein, and fat. These substances occur in the animal body in
varying proportions, depending on the age, condition, treatment,
and other factors. Plants also contain water, ash, fat, and pro-
tein. In addition, plants used to feed herbivorous animals con-
tain a group of substances called carbohydrates (starches
sugar, etc.) which may be converted into fat or energy. Since
the animal body and all animal products are composed of the
same group of substances as contained in feedstuffs, a basis is
had on which to develop the feeding of animals.
 Rational feeding of animals is to supply them with these
different elements in sufficient quantity and in the proper pro-
portion for the needs of the body. In such proportion they are
called a balanced ration. An animal can not grow and develop
as it should unless supplied with the proper amounts of the dif-
ferent substances its body needs. There is no one feed, except
milk, that supplies all of the necessary nutrients in the correct
proportion. It is necessary, therefore, to use a mixture of two
or more feeds in order to get best results.

 BALANCED RATIONS FOR DAIRY COWS
 The following list of balanced rations should be of interest to
all dairymen. The list is separated into two groups; those using
home-grown feeds, and those using purchased feeds. The quan-
tities named in each ration are sufficient for one cow for one day.
No attempt has been made to estimate the cost of any of these
rations, or to say which will be cheapest, as the prices of feeds
vary with the different sections of the State. Each dairyman
can figure for himself which rations will be the best to use.
 The two groups of rations are suggested for those who may
not be in position to feed silage to their cows. However, in these
rations silage can be substituted for the hay, in which case it
will be necessary to increase the quantity of protein feed. This
can be done by increasing the amount of cottonseed meal, velvet
beans, wheat bran or shorts as the case may be.-