170 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



small, influence upon the composition of the straw, 

 particularly that of the cereals. The nitrogenous 

 manures are the most important, and raise the 

 percentage of protein in the straw. In experiments 

 carried on for six years on barley straw, the average 

 amount of crude protein, when only mineral manures 

 were used, was 2-88%, but a manure containing a 

 large quantity of nitrogen with a medium amount 

 of minerals raised it to 3-94%. 



In the straw itself the nutrients are unevenly 

 divided, the lower parts of the stem containing 

 more woody tissue and less protein than the upper. 

 Similar differences are also seen between the lower 

 and upper leaves, whilst the ears are richest in 

 protein and poorest in crude fibre. 



Those portions of the straw which are nearest 

 to the seeds are the most valuable for feeding, so 

 it is sound practice to allow sheep to pick over the 

 straw intended for litter, for they will eat the 

 nutritious portions, which are almost equal to good 

 meadow hay. 



i. The straw of the cereals belongs to those 

 fodders which are very poor in protein and rich in 

 crude fibre. The lignification often goes so far that 

 80% of the digestible nutrients in winter wheat 

 straw is required to furnish energy for the work 

 of mastication, digestion, etc. (p. 87), whilst with 

 rye straw there is probably even less available for 

 the animal. The shorter the period of growth, 



