80 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



while meadow hay contains 10 per cent, albuminoids, 

 2\ per cent, fat, 42 per cent, carbohydrates, and 26 per 

 cent, fibre. 



The " cereal " straws (wheat, rye, barley, and oats) 

 are poor in albuminoids (3 to 4 per cent.) and oil (i to 

 2 per cent). They are moderately rich in carbohydrates 

 (33 to 38 per cent), but these consist largely of various 

 celluloses. They are, however, very high in fibre (37 

 to 44 per cent), and in winter-sown cereals the fibre 

 may be so high that, according to Kellner, 80 per cent 

 of the digestible nutrients of these cereal straws would 

 be required to furnish sufficient energy for mastication, 

 digestion, etc. 



Oat straw and barley straw are equally rich in 

 albuminoids (3! per cent), whilst wheat and rye 

 straw contain 3 per cent Fibre is highest in rye 

 (44 per cent.) and lowest in oat straw (37 per cent). 

 The younger the straw is at cutting-time, the richer it 

 is in albuminoids, and the lower it is in fibre ; while 

 straw which is allowed to become dead ripe is very 

 poor in albuminoids and very high in fibre. 



The chaff (barren glumes) has a slightly higher 

 nutritive value than the straw. 



Leguminous straws are very much richer in nutri- 

 ents than cereal straws. Pea straw is slightly richer 

 in albuminoids (9 per cent) than bean (8 per cent), 

 and in carbohydrates 34 per cent as against 31 per 

 cent, in bean straw. 



Pea, bean, and vetch straws have all " a binding 

 tendency," and require feeding in conjunction with 

 some laxative food. The stems are rather coarse, 

 but horses appear to relish them. The chaff (empty 

 pods) has about the same nutritive value as 

 clover hay. 



