1176 



THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



The composition of hay varies greatly with the date of cutting. 

 The following table gives the number of pounds of nutritive 

 substances contained in a ton of hay cut at three different dates : 



The first date represents grass rather younger than would 

 usually be cut for hay, but such as cattle get on a good pasture 

 in spring; the second date represents good, early cut hay; the 

 third, that which has been cut late, and is rather coarse and 

 stemmy. It will be noticed that as the season grew later there 

 was a remarkable decrease in the amount of nitrogenous matter 

 and a remarkable increase in the crude fiber. Crops that have 

 been grown on highly manured land usually contain more nitro- 

 genous matter than those grown on poor soil. Root crops that 

 have been grown on poor, dry soil, are more nutritious than 

 those grown on rich soil, as they contain less water. Root 

 crops increase in nutritious qualities as they become more mature, 

 as a portion of fiber contained in the immature root is converted 

 into starch and sugar. For the same reason they are more valu- 

 able later in the winter, if properly kept, than just after they are 

 harvested. Clover is very liable to lose nutriment in curing. 

 The greater part of the albuminoids which render it so val- 

 uable, are contained in the leaves, and if it is handled and 

 cured in such a manner that a considerable portion of these are 

 broken off and lost, its feeding value will be greatly diminished. 

 Hay, if exposed to drenching rains after curing, loses a large 

 portion of its most digestible constituents by leaching, and if 

 fermentation takes place to any considerable extent, a great 

 loss of valuable constituents will result. 



Digestibility of Foods. The analysis of a food does not 

 by itself determine its feeding value. A food may contain all 

 the material needed for the support of life, in abundance, yet 

 if the animal can but partially digest it, much of the nutriment 



