A Study of the Essential Nurtrient Content of Saskatchewan Feed Grains
Abstract
A fundamental principle recognized in all studies
of nutritive requirements was set forth by Haecker in these
words as quoted by Maynard and Loosli (40): "In order to
determine the actual net nutrients required to produce a
given animal product, the composition of the product should
be known, as well as the composition and the available nutrients
in food which is to be fed for its production, so that the
nutrients in the ration might be provided in the proportions
needed by the animal.
At the present time, feed grain composition data
of Canadian origin is seriously lacking, and it is necessary,
therefore, to rely on analytical data from elsewhere, mainly
the U.S.A. There is evidence available (28, 48, 52)
indicating that levels of certain nutrients in Western
Canadian grains differ appreciably from those reported by
the National Research Council (U.S.). There is evidence also
for variations attributable to soil type and climate (28, 43,
66, 52).