54 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



Contrary to the negative results Obtained by Bichelmaier and Hilz, the 

 seed hulls of buckwheat contain a fluorescent body (fluorophyll-Koefeld) 

 extractable with alcohol, ether and chloroform, which causes afllections 

 of the gastrointestinal mucosa, swelling of the liver and kidneys and 

 necrobiotic changes in the leucocytes. In white colored animals it causes 

 affections of the skin in the areas exposed to the light. 



To prevent fagopyrism white sheep and swine should be permitted on 

 buckwheat pasture on cloudy days only and fed in rhe stable on bright, 

 sunny days, and furthermore, not exposed to bright sunshine for a week 

 after cessation of buckwheat feeding. Affected animals should be put 

 under shelter at once, or kept in shady places. The harmful action of 

 buckwheat may be held in check to some extent by simultaneous seeding 

 with millet, white mustard (Sinapis alba) or summer rape, and feedmg 

 the mixture. 



Mustard is frequently fed alone, to milk cows, and is said to exert a 

 favorable influence on milk secretion. It may also be fed to young cattle 

 and to sheep. This forage must be fed between the time of beginning 

 bloom and the formation of the seed pods, not later, on account of the 

 accumulation of oil of mustard in the seeds. Mustard is usually harm- 

 less before bloom. It has frequently been asserted that feeding in later 

 stages causes serious intestinal inflammations, but this seems improbable. 



Winter rape {Brassica napus) and common turnips {Brassico rapa) af- 

 ford large crops in the fall of the year or in favorable spring weather. As 

 a soiling crop they should be cut not later than the first appearance of 

 bloom and fed with chaffed straw, thus serving as a transition feed for 

 soiling. Rape fields are also used as pasture for sheep, after the main 

 crop has been removed. The finer breeds of wool sheep should receive 

 dry forage in addition. Green rape has a favorable influence on the 

 secretion of milk, but the quantity fed shoult be kept within reason. Ex- 

 cessive rations may cause diarrhea, even gastroenteritis, nephritis and 

 death. To what extent influences foreign to the rape itself are con- 

 cerned in producing the imfavorable effects following the feeding of this 

 plant in large quantities is as yet an open question. Among the agencies 

 suspected are Polydesmus exitiosus, Peronospora parasitica (rape mold), 

 white blister rust {Cystopus candidus), sclerotioides disease of rape 

 {Peziza schlerotioides) , caterpillars and butterflies, etc. Young animals 

 in particular frequently experience ill effects from feeding on rape. The 

 injurious effects of rape may be avoided to some extent or entirely pre- 

 vented by simultaneously sowing of rye, vetches, Italian rye grass, etc., 

 with the rape. 



According to Craig, green rape is well adapted for fattening swine. 

 In the United States rape pasture is preferred to red clover for swine. 



Beet leaves also constitute a good soiling crop, especially for cattle 

 and swine (mangel and sugar beet). In this connection should be men- 

 tioned the leaves of cabbage and of the carrot, of kohlrabi (turnip cab- 

 bage) and of late fall turnips. The leaves of beets and turnips are rather 



