FOOD FROM CURED FODDERS 



nearly so well as corn, sorghum, Kafir corn or Milo maize. 

 Its growth for fodder, therefore, where any of these plants 

 can be grown in good form is not to be commended. 



Teosinte produces an enormous amount of long, slen- 

 der leaves. A large tonnage of fodder may be obtained per 

 acre from one or more cuttings in the season, but, owing 

 to the character of the growth, it is not easily handled nor 

 readily cured, nor does it seem to be more highly relished 

 than pearl millet. However useful, therefore, it may prove 

 for regions far south, its growth is not to be recommended 

 for fodder in the northern or central states. 



Straw as fodder. Straw from the small cereal grains, 

 so generally used for bedding, is also frequently used for 

 fodder. When used as fodder, it should usually be as a 

 part of the fodder ration only, owing to the large bulk 

 which it possesses in proportion to the nutrition and also 

 to the large amount of the crude fibre which it contains. 

 Although the feeding value of nearly all kinds of straw is 

 low relatively, it may frequently be fed with profit to ma- 

 ture or store animals that are being simply carried 

 through the winter, or along with concentrates to cheapen 

 the ration, when hay is dear. The necessity for and the ad- 

 vantage from feeding straw, is largely dependent on the rel- 

 ative value of other fodders. Straw has considerable value 

 for feeding on the farms of New England and on those of 

 the eastern provinces of Canada, while in wheat growing 

 areas of the American and Canadian Northwest, it is usu- 

 ally burned to get rid of it. Rye, wheat, barley, speltz, 

 oats, peas, beans and flax are the principal sources from 

 which straw is obtained in America. 



The feeding value of straw is much influenced by 

 what may be termed its physical condition, by the way in 

 which it is cured and by the extent to which it has been in- 

 jured by such diseases as rust. The physical condition of 

 straw has reference among other things to the stage of ma- 

 turity at which it was cut, the fineness of stem and abun- 

 dance of leaves, and the extent to which beards are present 



