Ridecamp: Re: [RC] musings re "the good old days"

   Even my alternative school kids
> who don't know squat about horses but who have memorized the 5th Amendment
> and are getting A's in Street Law and are eagerly working on an Algebra I
> credit to go with that can tell you that to solve for "x" in this case
(the
> amount of e-lytes you have to give), you have to set up an equation to the
> effect that total need = intake + x, or in other words, x = total need -
> intake.  x in this case is NOWHERE NEAR the total need, especially for the
> Hoovers out there for whom the intake is voluminous.  And if the intake is
> not voluminous, you are going to run into calorie problems--ok, so you can
> squirt in Miracle Goo every hour, but that still doesn't address the needs
> of the GI tract to continue functioning, etc., etc., so bottom line still
> suggests that perhaps eating and drinking are an integral part of this
deal,
> and that stuff like e-lytes and Miracle Goo should only be, as you say,
the
> icing on the cake.
>
> Heidi

*standing ovation*  Very well put, Heidi.  I liked the icing metaphor,
too...a lot of bakers out there who graduated from the Ellie Mae Clampett
School of Baking....

I've been seeing this a lot lately in dairy situations--people are
formulating rations without really understanding the whole process.  There
is a certain order of feeds that should be followed, yet it seems like they
just pick whatever's available, and play with the amounts until the
nutrients balance.  I'm willing to bet that ninety-five percent of the
people in the field balancing rations nowadays couldn't do one by hand if
they had to.  I adore computer ration formulation programs, but someone can
do a lot of harm if they use one without understanding the basics of ration
formulation.


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