FOOD FROM CEREALS AND OTHER SEEDS 245 



tfie protein may render them insufficient of itself as a source 

 of protein. Soy beans yield from, say 12 to 20 bushels an 

 acre under average conditions in states suited to their 

 growth, hence it is quite feasible in these to grow them as a 

 source of protein. The mature grain is only fed to cattle 

 in the ground form, except when fed as ensilage. It is also 

 ground when fed to swine except when harvested by the 

 swine in the field, which is sometimes done, but it is not 

 usual to grind them for sheep or horses. 



For fattening cattle, soy bean meal though not much 

 used, may be so used as a part of the grain ration, but only 

 as a moderate portion, owing to the high percentage of the 

 oil which it contains. For this reason it should be fed with 

 a prudent caution to milch cows. But it has been found 

 quite satisfactory as a source of protein in feeding both beef 

 cattle and dairy cows. When from 20 to 33 per cent of the 

 silage is composed of soy beans reasonably well matured, 

 the balance being corn also well grown, the protein in the 

 ration will probably be found ample for cows in milk, pro- 

 viding the fodder is alfalfa or clover. It would furnish an 

 excellent meal adjunct, at least as good as linseed meal for 

 calves during the milk period, whether fed in the milk or 

 along with other meal. Much of what is said about 

 the feeding of ground flax will also apply to the feeding of 

 soy bean meal (see p. 249). 



For sheep that are being fattened, the grain should 

 only form a small part of the ration, but how much would 

 depend, first, on the relative value of the beans and, second, 

 on the protein in the fodder. In the absence of experi- 

 ment, it would seem safe to say that soy bean meal should 

 not be fed to sheep in larger quantity than oil meal (see 

 p. 277). 



For szvine the meal is expensive, too expensive in the 

 meantime to be fed in competition with some of the other 

 sources of protein. But the beans may, under some condi- 

 tions, be profitably harvested by swine. Before turning in 

 the swine, the beans should be practically mature. When 



