FARM ANIMALS 121 



almost always be depended upon for the produc- 

 tion of good health. In fact the effectiveness of 

 alfalfa and its suitability for steer rations is appar- 

 ent from a test made in Kansas in which twice as 

 much profit was obtained from the use of alfalfa 

 for roughage as from any of the other ordinary 

 forage plants used for this purpose. 



Brome grass hay is about equal to western rye 

 grass for the production of beef. In Canada it 

 has been found that cattle require less grain feed 

 when fed brome grass hay in ordinary rations, but 

 that there is more profit from corn stover than 

 from brome grass. 



Clover Hay. This is generally considered ex- 

 cellent roughage for steers. It takes the place of 

 alfalfa throughout that portion of the eastern 

 states where alfalfa has not secured a commercial 

 foothold. Like alfalfa, clover makes it possible 

 to economize greatly in nitrogenous grain feeds 

 when corn is used as the main grain ration. Clover 

 like alfalfa may be fed ad libitum to steers without 

 danger, provided the material is clean and prop- 

 erly cured. 



Corn Stover. Corn stalks are valuable as rough- 

 age for steers in all forms in which they have 

 been prepared either as corn stover, stripped corn 

 leaves, silage (or shredded corn fodder. The 

 relative loss of nutrition in corn stored in the form 

 of silage and cured in the field differs very little, 

 so that the method of storing may be determined by 

 the special circumstances under which the farmer 

 is situated. As a rule corn can be most economi- 

 cally stored and harvested in the form of silage. 

 Generally one pound of corn fodder is equal to 

 three or four pounds of silage. In Alabama 

 shredded corn stover of a poor quality and some- 



