FOOD FROM CURED FODDERS 221 



as peas for instance, differs from the straw of other cereals 

 much as clover hay differs from that made from the 

 grasses, that is, it is richer in protein and is more palatable. 



For stock Straw is by no means equally well adapted 

 to the feeding of the various classes of farm animals. It is 

 better adapted relatively to the feeding of ruminants than 

 to feeding horses or mules, owing to the relatively larger 

 stomach of the former and to the greater length and com- 

 plexity of their digestive canal, which gives them more time 

 and greater power to digest bulky products of low relative 

 nutrition. Notwithstanding, straw may furnish a consid- 

 erable proportion of the fodder ration of work horses when 

 occasion calls for it, providing the amount of the concen- 

 trates is increased so as to furnish the requisite nutrition. 

 Horses that are idle may be entirely, or almost entirely, 

 wintered on good straw of certain of the cereals. Cattle 

 that are being fattened and cows in milk may also utilize 

 considerable quantities, providing concentrates are used to 

 maintain equilibrium in nutrients. The free and judicious 

 use of straw may frequently effect a considerable saving in 

 the wintering of young cattle beyond calfhood without ap- 

 parently checking growth, and, as with idle horses, straw 

 alone, or almost alone, may be made to sustain cattle at rest, 

 for considerable periods. Sheep utilize straw to better ad- 

 vantage even than cattle. They can more readily pick out 

 the finer portions. Straw fodder is quite unsuited to the 

 needs of swine. 



Rye straw is so unpalatable and woody, that it ranks 

 low in feeding value. In nutrients it is fully equal to 

 wheat straw, but is not equal to it in palatability. The 

 economy of forcing animals to eat rye straw unless in in- 

 stances when fodder is scarce and dear is at least open to 

 question 



Spelts straw is somewhat more valuable than rye straw 

 for feeding, but the hard, stiff character of the straw and 

 beards present discounts its feeding value not a little. 



