360 Oat (iiul Tare Silaye 



It is tlius obvious that the fermentation to which the straw was 

 submitted had the effect of converting an appreciable amount of the 

 cellulose of the straw into a form which could be dissolved during the 

 process of determining the percentage of crude fibre. The conversion of 

 crude fibre into nitrogen-free extractives involved a distinct improve- 

 ment in the feeding value of the straw. 



From the results of the present investigation, it appears probable 

 that the cellulose of thi^ green oats and tares undergoes to some e.\tent 

 a similar breakdown during ensilage, resulting in a gain of nitrogen-free 

 extractives and a corres|)ondiiig decrease in the amount of crude fibre. 

 Indeed, the nitrogen-free extractives so formed may conceivably undergo 

 further change with the production of organic acids, although this may 

 not hap])en if the green forage develops acidity rapidly in the early 

 stages of storage in the silo. 



It should be pointed out that the oats and tares used in this in- 

 vestigation were cut in an immature condition, so that the optimum 

 conditions obtained for observing possible changes affecting the fibrous 

 constituent. To what extent the cellulose of mature forage would be 

 subject to such changes is uncertain, though Voelcker' s work indicates 

 that similar changes would occur. The ])oint is under investigation. 



The clianges modifying the cellulose constituent during ensilage of 

 fodder are of great importance from the jjoint of view of nutritive value. 

 The gain is twofold: 1. Part of the fibre breaks down into nitrogen-free 

 extractives (and, to some extent possibly, to organic acids), i. The 

 residual crude fibre itself possesses a greater digestibility tlian the 

 original crude fibre in the green oats and tares^. 



V. Changes Kiijjered bi/ the nitrogen -free extractives. 



In no case was the loss of nitrogen-free extractives less than 11 per 

 cent, of this constituent originally present in the bags. The biggest 

 losses were registered in bags 1 and 2, the diminution being roughly 

 19-5 per cent, in each bag. It is significant, in view of the remarks 

 contained in the preceding paragraph, that the amount of crude fibre 

 disappearing in these bags was much smaller than in the remaining bags. 



The results for bag 8 show that the rotting of a silage sam|)lc may 

 lead to large losses of nitrogen-free extractives. 



VI. Changes suffered by inorganic constituents. 



Large losses of inorganic salts may occur during ensilage owing to 

 the sohibli" portions escaping in the juice. Where little drainage occurs, 



' VVoodmiui, J. Ayric. Hci. 12, 144, 1922. 



