224 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



When grasses are sown with a cereal nurse crop, it 

 sometimes happens as in seasons of good growth that grass 

 is abundantly present in the grain, and when it is, the straw 

 thereof is nearly as valuable as hay. But when grass is thus 

 abundantly present, the yield of grain may be lowered. 

 Timothy sown in a grain crop in the autumn, in some in- 

 stances furnishes a large proportion of the reaped crop and 

 especially when the grain crop partially fails. 



Chaff from wheat and oats is more valuable than an 

 equal weight of straw, not only in food constituents but also 

 in palatability. Wheat and oat chaff are usually eaten with 

 avidity by farm animals, but rye and barley chaff, especially 

 the latter, are less valuable because of the presence of the 

 beards. Some feeders of barley straw aim to separate the 

 chaff from the straw as far as this may be practicable. Even 

 where the straw is used solely for bedding, the plan which 

 saves the chaff for feeding when practicable is to be com- 

 mended. 



When straw is fed in the uncut form and especially 

 when the supply is plentiful, the amount fed should be so 

 liberal that the unconsumed portion may be used for litter. 

 This method of providing litter is to be commended, as 

 much of the straw thus fed is turned to higher account 

 than if the whole were used as litter. This method of us- 

 ing straw is especially to be recommended in feeding sheep, 

 as they are sure to pick out and consume the finer portions. 

 The uneaten portion is thus used to furnish fresh litter 

 every day. 



When straw furnishes a large or principal portion of 

 the ration for live stock, it frequently tends to produce more 

 or less a dry condition of the faeces indicative of constipa- 

 tion. When a limited amount of field roots can be fed daily 

 along with the straw, this condition will be corrected. Ten 

 to 12 pounds of roots fed daily will suffice for a mature cat- 

 tle beast. Where roots are not available, oil cake will an- 

 swer the same end. It also adds protein, so much lacking in 

 nearly all kinds of straw. 



