2O6 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



hay, pea hay and vetch hay. The oat is more commonly 

 made to furnish hay than any of the small grains . The ne- 

 cessity for growing hay from these sources is based on the 

 needs of the localities where they are thus grown, and on 

 the attendant conditions of soil and climate. Hay from 

 these crops is made in the same way as hay from the grasses. 

 The time of cutting varies with the use that is to be made 

 of it. The aim, however, in cutting it seeks to retain the 

 green color in the hay without sacrificing entirely the grain 

 product. In other words it seeks to cut the crop as soon 

 as the plants are possessed of a maximum of nutrition and 

 before the crop has matured. 



Rye hay is probably the least valuable of the kinds of 

 hay made from any of the small cereals. At a very early 

 stage of growth it becomes woody in character and so un- 

 profitable that live stock do not eat it readily unless when 

 chaffed and mixed with other fodders. The matured grain 

 of rye is usually more valuable than the grain and fodder 

 together when harvested short of maturity. Rye hay is less 

 relished by sheep than by other live stock unless it has been 

 cut at or before the early earing stage. 



Spelts hay is sometimes made in semi-arid regions 

 where hay from other sources is not easily obtained. That 

 it does not produce high yields of fodder is so far an ob- 

 jection to its use. Care must be taken not to allow it to be- 

 come so mature that it will get over-woody. 



Wheat hay is grown to a considerable extent in certain 

 01 the Pacific states and in some of the semi-arid country 

 to provide hay chiefly for horses and more particularly for 

 horses at work. On the bench lands of these states it may 

 usually be harvested and cured in the absence of rain. 

 When cut a little short of maturity it makes excellent hay 

 for horses at work, but for other classes of animals on the 

 farm it is usually too costly for such feeding. In other 

 words, other plants may usually be grown that will furnish 

 hay more cheaply. 



