FOOD FROM CEREALS AND OTHER SEEDS " 235 



seldom form more than one-third of the meal fed in pro- 

 longed feeding. 



To beef cattle, rye may be fed with much freedom, 

 where the necessity exists for so feeding it. This necessity 

 is, however, seldom present, as corn is usually cheaper, 

 hence the larger the proportion of the corn fed, the more 

 economical is the ration. It is also better relished. Wheat 

 bran in the proportions of say one part by weight to three 

 or four parts rye meal tends much to improve the ration. 

 It renders the meal less adhesive and adds to the protein 

 content. The same is measurably true of ground oats which, 

 however, are usually too valuable to be much used in such 

 feeding. Other nitrogeneous by-products as oil cake may 

 sometimes be fed in the place of bran, but the necessity of 

 adding these to the rye meal and the advantage from the 

 same are much dependent on the extent to which protein is 

 present in the fodder. 



To cows giving milk, rye meal may be fed in reason- 

 able quantities, but if more than 3 pounds are fed per cow 

 daily, hazard may be present that the quality of the butter 

 product will be affected adversely, hence when fed, it is 

 common to give a less quantity than that named. Equal 

 parts by weight of ground rye, ground oats and wheat bran 

 with ordinary fodders make a very suitable grain ration, 

 also equal parts of rye, oat and corn meal and wheat bran 

 with clover or alfalfa hay. If fed with wheat bran only, 

 the bran should furnish not less than one-third of the meal 

 ration. 



To lambs, rye is not commonly fed, but may be so fed 

 with oats even with benefit, where the latter furnish the 

 larger portion of the grain ration. Similarly it may be thus 

 fed to breeding ewes and in larger proportions, when the 

 roughage is rich in protein elements. To sheep that are 

 being fattened, it is not usual, nor would it probably be wise, 

 to feed rye, making it more than half the ration for pro- 

 longed feeding, since sheep, in common with all other do- 

 mestic animals, are less fond and tire of it sooner than of 



