FOOD FROM CURED FODDERS 217 



Non-saccharine sorghum fodders. The chief of the 

 non-saccharine sorghums grown for fodder in the United 

 States are: Kafir corn, Jerusalem corn, durra and Milo 

 maize. Of these, Kafir corn in one or the other of its vari- 

 eties is by far the most extensively grown. Broom corn, 

 much akin to these plants, may also be grown for fodder, 

 and also pearl millet, although it is not strictly speaking a 

 non-saccharine sorghum. Teosinte also bears some resem- 

 blance to them in its growth, but it also is not really a non- 

 saccharine sorghum. The growth of these plants, unless it 

 be broom corn, is confined chiefly to areas that are con- 

 sidered too dry for the safe and abundant production of 

 corn and sweet sorghum. All these plants are less highly 

 relished than sweet sorghum, and are so far less valuable 

 for feeding. 



For cattle, Kafir corn is extensively used as a fodder in 

 areas where it is much grown. Its value for such feeding 

 is much influenced by the way in which it has been grown 

 and in which it is fed. When grown thickly and fed from 

 the sheaf or cock, it contains more or less seed, which, of 

 course, adds to its palatability and feeding value. When 

 the fodder only is fed after the heads have been removed 

 from a crop grown primarily for the grain, not a little of 

 the coarser portion will be rejected. The palatability of 

 such fodder will be so far improved by shredding, that its 

 consumption will be much increased, thus reducing the 

 waste, and because of the dry conditions amid which it 

 grows, Kafir corn does not usually spoil readily in the 

 shredded form. Because of the relatively small amount of 

 protein which this fodder contains, it is important when 

 practicable that it shall be fed in conjunction with alfalfa, 

 as the latter can usually be grown on areas favorable to 

 the growth of Kafir corn. 



To sheep, when fed as fodder after the grain has been 

 removed, much of it will be rejected unless when shred- 

 ded, because of the stocky character of the growth. When 

 grown like grain it makes more suitable fodder for sheep. 



