Preparation of Feeding Stuffs. 



219 



Studying the results of 12 feeding trials with pigs at 8 stations, Rom- 

 mel 1 finds a difference of slightly over 2 per ct. in favor of soaked 

 over dry feed for fattening pigs. Grisdale of the Ottawa Experi- 

 mental Farms 2 found a loss from soaking ground grain, while whole 

 grain returned better gains when soaked. (522, 822, 824) 



340. Chaffing hay and straw. The use of cut or "chaffed" hay 

 and straw is common in establishments where large numbers of horses 

 are kept. A little water lays the dust of chaffed hay, and the feeder 

 can rapidly and accurately apportion the allowance for each animal. 

 If meal is mingled with a limited portion of moistened chaffed hay, 

 the mixture is in condition to be quickly masticated and swallowed 

 so that it can remain longer in the stomach undergoing digestion 

 an item of importance with hard-worked horses which are in the 

 stable only at night. (447) In feeding trials with short- and long-fed 

 steers, Cummings of the Ontario Agricultural College 3 found little 

 difference between cut and uncut hay of good quality. Jordan of the 

 Maine Station 4 fed cows long hay and meal for 30 days, and then for 

 51 days following they were fed cut hay and meal which had been 

 moistened with water and allowed to stand for several hours before it 

 was fed. At the close of this period, long hay and dry meal were 

 once more supplied for 30 days. The returns from the 5 cows were : 



Milk Butter 



Average daily yield when meal and long hay were fed dry. _ 115 . 3 Ibs. 4 . 6 Ibs. 

 Average daily yield when meal and cut hay were fed wet. _ 113 . 2 Ibs. 4 . 2 Ibs. 



It is shown that long hay and dry meal gave somewhat better re- 

 turns than wet cut hay and meal. These findings are confirmed by 

 Speer of the Iowa Station, 5 who fed calves dry meal and long hay in 

 opposition to a wet mixture of cut hay and meal. 



341. Shredding corn forage. At the Wisconsin Station 6 the author 

 conducted 3 trials in which cows were fed either shredded or un- 

 shredded corn stover or fodder corn, with the same allowance of grain 

 and hay for all. The results follow: 



Feeding shredded corn stover or fodder to cows. 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus., Bui. 47. * Rpt. 1890. 



2 Bui. 33. 5 Bui. 12. 



3 Rpt. 1903. Rpt. 1886. 



