60 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



quality and conspicuously pale or light colored. It is composed mainly 

 of Lolium perenne, often Phlem pratense and Dactylis glomerata and 

 little or no clover. It is said to be inferior in nutritious elements, to 

 affect the secretion of milk unfavorably, to cause diarrhea in lambs and 

 scorbutus in sheep (Koenig). There is no doubt, at least, that hay from 

 irrigated meadows lacks the aroma and palatability that characterizes 

 meadow hay. According to Friedlaender, the proteins of the irrigated- 

 meadow hay and the nitrogen- free extract of the ordinary meadow hay 

 are more easily digested than respective nutrients of the other hay. As a 

 rule irrigated-meadow hay is deficient in mineral matter, especially the 

 bone-forming salts. On the other hand there is no question that the 

 amount and proportion of these constituents may be materially influenced 

 by fertility conditions and by regulation of the irrigation water supply. 

 In general it would be advisable to supplement rations consisting largely 

 of hay from irrigated meadows, with liberal allowances of salt as a sub- 

 stitute for the absent aroma and as a stimulant for the appetite and 

 digestion. When there is a deficiency of lime salt, daily doses of pre- 

 pared chalk not exceeding three ounces may be given. 



Light colored meadow hay consists chiefly of long-stemmed grasses of rank 

 growth rich in crude fiber. Aromatic herbs are usually absent in this kind of hay. 

 As a result such hay is less palatable and not so well liked by animals. It is usually 

 hay of medium grade. 



So-called Mielitz hay, well liked in Berlin for feeding horses, consists 

 principally of Glyceria aqiiatica (European species) and PJmlaris arun- 

 dacecE (Canary grass — common in Europe as well as in the Middle 

 States). The latter species is much inferior to the former. It is a 

 coarse feed, yellowish in color and strawlike, but when properly har- 

 vested makes a good hay of medium grade. 



So-called Alpine hay (grown in the mountainous sections of Ger- 

 many) is a hay of high quality, short and fine stemmed, leafy, and mixed 

 with aromatic herbs. Starch value, 38.5 per cent, digestible protein 6.4 

 per cent. 



Salt-marsh hay is brownish in color and very palatable on account of 

 its high salt content. It is classed as a good grade of hay and may be 

 recognized by the species of which it is composed, Junciis botnicus, Tri- 

 glochin maritirnum, Scirpus maritimns, Plantago maritima^, etc. Starch 

 value is about 30 per cent, digestible protein about 3 per cent. Such 

 salt-marsh hay as blue joint {Calamagrostis canadensis) , cut before ma- 

 turity equals timothy in value^. 



A thorough examination sometimes requires the use of the microscope 

 in addition to inspection with the mere naked eye. The procedure con- 

 sists in sprinkling a little of the hay on a sheet of paper. The fine, 

 broken material thus obtained is then inspected for the presence of seeds. 



"American species. 



9Henry and Morrison, Feeds and Feeding, 16th edition, 1916. 



