74 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



the taste before they reHsh them. Large rations should be avoided for 

 dairy cattle because they tend to produce watery milk and scouring. A 

 few cases of poisoning are on record. 



3. Beets and Roots 



The most important root crops are: Beta vulgaris and its many vari- 

 eties (field beet, mangel wurzel, sugar beet, common garden beet, etc.), 

 Brassica napiis (kohlrabi, rutabaga, etc.), B. rapa (common white tur- 

 nip) (the two latter species are really cabbages), and Daucus carota 

 (the carrot, one of the Umbelli ferae). As shown by the chemical 

 analyses in the appendix, they all contain a large amount of water, car- 

 bohydrates (especially sugar) and nonalbuminous nitrogen compounds 

 (nitrates and amid compounds), which compose one-third of the entire 

 proteids. 



Animals are fond of these root crops, which have a laxative effect 

 and are valuable in chronic constipation. Carrots are reputedly good 

 vermifuges (ascarids) and have a favorable effect in catarrhal conditions 

 of the upper air passages, dissolving the mucous secretions and allaying 

 local irritation. They are sometimes given to colts as a digestive tonic. 

 When fed to excess they are apt to cause scouring and, in horses, par- 

 aplegia (carotism) and, reputedly, abortion. Excessive rations of tur- 

 nips are said to cause inflammation of the brain in sheep (Oppermann). 

 According to experiments conducted by Albrecht, carrots in otherwise 

 good condition may be stored for a long time without acquiring injurious 

 properties. Whether soil conditions or long periods of storage have 

 unfavorable effects remains to be demonstrated. Excessive feeding of 

 carrots to sheep has been supposed to cause anemia and dropsical con- 

 ditions. In cattle and swine, when fed with insufficient roughage they 

 have been suspected of causing brittleness and softening of the bones. 

 In cattle fed almost exclusively on root crops serious oxalic acid and 

 saltpeter poisoning with hematuria have been observed. When fed in 

 large chunks these roots may cause choking and the attendant compli- 

 cations. When spoiled or decomposed they may cause serious and even 

 fatal poisoning. It is said that exposure of slightly spoiled roots to 

 the air for several days will sometimes lessen their injurious effects. 



Method of feeding. — In general, roots are not suitable feed for horses, 

 although carrots are frequently used in a dietetic way. The daily ration 

 may be 10 or 20 pounds. On the other hand, roots are excellent cow 

 feed, especially for milk cows. In moderate amounts (20 pounds) they 

 are a good milk feed and agree well with pregnant animals. When 

 fed to excess they exert an unfavorable influence upon the quantity 

 and quility (bitter taste) of the milk. This objection may be over- 

 come in case of rutabagas and kohlrabi by steaming, but not in case 

 of turnips and the true beets. The water used for steaming or scalding 

 must of course be discarded. All of these roots, but especially carrots, 

 are good for sheep (2 to 4 pounds). They have poor fattening qualities 



