62 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



dust, etc. Bacterial fermentation may cause a temperature of from 140° 

 to 158° F., and this, followed by purely chemical processes of oxyda- 

 tion, may be increased to 266° F. and more. The latter temperatures 

 causes charring and, attended with sufficient oxygen supply, actual igni- 

 tion. (According to Henry and Morrison, clover hay, according to 

 actual tests, wall ignite at 302° to 392° F.— Translator. ) Poorly har- 

 vested hay may be prevented from overheating by the application of 

 common salt. (Henry and Morrision recommend compacting and cover- 

 ing with other material when hay heats to a dangerously high point and 

 the taking of every other possible precaution to cut out the air — Trans- 

 lator.) After the sweating process is completed the injurious after-effects 

 mentioned above rarely appear. If conditions exist that make it necessary 

 to feed fresh hay, the change should be made gradually (mixing old with 

 the new hay), or, if this is not possible, the new hay should be chaffed 

 with straw and fed sparingly. 



As hay becomes older, it increases in dryness, becomes brittle, is easily broken 

 into fine particles and is apt to become dusty. The more delicate and valuable parts 

 are lost. The fresh color disappears, palatability is reduced, the pleasant aroma 

 lost, it becomes less digestil)le and as a result of loss of proteids is less nourishing. 

 After being stored for one or two years hay loses its stimulating dietetic action, 

 and owing to its "dustiness" may produce catarrh of the respiratory tract. In short, 

 its quality suffers and its value as a feed diminishes. 



Uses of the different varieties of hay. The finer qualities of hay are 

 usually preferred for feeding sheep and young stock, the coarser varieties 

 for cattle and the medium sorts for horses. Swine, as a rule, are not 

 fed any hay. They will take it only when chaffed, or steamed, or, better, 

 cooked. They do not utilize it profitably. 



Hay alone may serve as a maintenance ration for herbivora, but it is 

 not a suitable producing ration for either horses or cattle. It is abso- 

 lutely necessary, however, as part of a proper ration for horses and cattle. 

 Daily rations for horses should include 4 to 12 pounds of hay, the larger 

 rations for heavy and slow work, the smaller for work of the opposite 

 character. Cattle, especially milk cows, should receive, if at all prac- 

 ticable, 5 pounds of hay per 1,000 pounds live weight. Compared with 

 straw and other substitutes it is much richer in lime and other salts. 

 Many cows are fed smaller rations of hay, but this is poor economy. 



Sweet silage. The starch value of this feed is between 12 and 14 per 

 cent. Digestibility is high, digestive effort comparatively low. Cattle 

 usually like sweet silage or soon become accustomed to it. It is also a 

 wholesome feed for pregnant animals. Sweet silage may be gradually 

 substituted for the hay ration. Fifteen pounds of sweet silage may be 

 substituted for one-third of the hay ration, 22 pounds for half, and 40 

 to 45 pounds for the entire hay ration. Four to five pounds of sweet 

 silage correspond in value to 2 pounds of hay. The change from hay to 

 sweet silage should be made gradually. For practical purposes 60 pounds 

 of sweet silage and 12 pounds of hay should be fed per 1,000 pounds live 

 weight and a milk yield of 2^^ gallons (10 liters). (In regard to the 



