66 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



richer in protein, lime and phospiioric acid and may equal good meadow 

 hay, or even clover hay, in this respect. The digestible protein content 

 and starch value of winter cereal straw is 0.4 to 0.5 and 10 to 11 per 

 cent respectively. That of summer cereal straw is 3 to 4 and 12 to 19 per 

 cent, respectively. 



The digestibility of the protein and nitrogen-free extract is greater 

 in the leguminous straw (which is relatively low in fiber content), while 

 the digestibility of the fiber is greater in cereal straw. Ruminants utilize 

 the nutrients in straw better than do horses. Cereal straw is not suitable as 

 a complete ration or feed even for animals at rest, but may constitute a 

 part of the ration of horses at rest, for a certain period of time, and even 

 for colts during the second and third years of age. In an emergency, 

 straw may, if well admixed with clover, or not completely deprived of 

 the grain, be used as a maintenance feed for ruminants, but otherwise it 

 should constitute only a part of the roughage ration. Sometimes straw 

 which is intended for litter is first offered to sheep, which pick out the 

 more desirable and nutritious admixtures. These latter may be regarded 

 as hardly second to good meadow hay. 



As compared with all other feeding stuffs, straw is characterized by 

 its bulky nature. It is important as a supplementary feed, because it pro- 

 vides the necessary mass required to fill the voluminous digestive canal 

 of herbivora. Mixed with watery feeding stuffs (slops and beets) it 

 supplies the necessary dry matter, and owing to its rich fiber content 

 and, in case of cereal straw, silicic acid content, acts as a mechanical 

 .stimulant to digestive activity. It enforces thorough mastication and 

 ensahvation (chaffed, with grain for horses) and stimulates rumination 

 in cattle and sheep. It also contributes a great deal to the wholesome- 

 ness of fermented feeding stuffs (silage) and of clover. This action is 

 ascribed to its favorable effects upon the digestive organs. 



Summer straw is less woody (fibrous) than winter straw and conse- 

 quently more digestible. Straw admixed with different kinds of weeds 

 (except perhaps ragweed — Ambrosia artemisisefolia) has a considerably 

 higher nutrient value, since most mixtures of weeds approach medium- 

 grade meadow hay in this respect. When admixed with a good growth 

 of clover it is still more valuable — up to 2.4 per cent digestible protein 

 and 24 per cent starch value. 



Of the cereal straws, those of oats and barley are the most valuable. 

 The former contains a large amount of a bitter principle which gives 

 palatability and promotes digestion. It is especially good for horses and 

 sheep. Cattle eat it well, but for these the straw of barley is to be pre- 

 ferred on account of its supposed stimulating effect upon milk secretion. 

 It possesses the peculiar characteristic, however, of attracting or absorb- 

 ing moisture to such a degree that it is apt to spoil. Milk cows, however, 

 should not be given too much of either oat or barley straw, because both 

 are said to be liable to give a bitter taste to the milk. 



Wheat straw, like oat and barley straw, is a common feed for cattle 



