158 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



production, according to whether they are fed 

 green or as hay. In the latter case a considerable 

 portion of the nutrients is always lost by respira- 

 tion, crumbling, fermentation, etc., and there is 

 extra energy required for the work of mastication 

 and digestion (p. 88). It therefore follows that 

 the green fodder has more feeding value than the 

 hay prepared from it ; this quite apart from the 

 expense of hay-making. When it is possible to 

 use the food in a green state, it is preferable to do 

 this and not to limit the green feeding unless there 

 are special reasons. Fodder plants can be fed to 

 all domestic animals, but there are limitations 

 depending upon the kind of fodder and the species 

 of the animal. First of all a sudden change to 

 green food should be avoided. Further, owing to 

 the large quantity of water in the green plant, 

 relatively large quantities have to be consumed 

 which is often burdensome to the animal and apt to 

 lead to an ugly distension of the belly. Draught 

 oxen and high-class horses require to be limited in 

 the amount of green food which they get. Caution 

 is also necessary on account of the large quantities 

 of gas which are formed in the stomach when such 

 fodder is being fed, and this is particularly the case 

 when the grass, clover, etc. has been wet by dew 

 or rain, or left so long in a heap that it has begun 

 to heat. In this respect clover is the most dangerous 

 of these green foods and is very apt to cause dis- 



