FOOD FROM CEREALS AND OTHER SEEDS 259 



In some instances the ears are broken off and fed without 

 husking when it is designated "snapped" corn. The stalks, 

 with the ears removed, are known as "stover." When these 

 are torn into strips by a suitable machine, the product is 

 called "shredded" corn. The discussion at this time relates 

 primarily to the grain. 



To young animals, corn is usually fed cracked or 

 ground. By "cracked" is meant broken up into coarse 

 particles that they may masticate it more easily. In some 

 instances, the corn and cob are ground together before be- 

 ing fed, the product being spoken of as corn and cob meal. 

 When prepared thus, it should be finely ground, as when the 

 particles are coarse, they are not easily digested. When 

 properly prepared, corn and cob meal has about the same 

 feeding value as corn meal, notwithstanding the small 

 amount of nutrients in the cob. The result is owing prob- 

 ably to the more easily penetrable character of the mass in 

 the stomach when fed directly. When fed to cattle that are 

 being fattened, corn is given ground or unground, soaked 

 or unsoaked, as snapped corn and also as shock corn. It is 

 usually given to cows in the form of meal. It is more com- 

 monly fed to sheep shelled and unground, but may be fed, 

 in part at least, as ear corn or as shock corn. It is usually 

 fed to swine in the shelled or ear form and unground. In 

 some instances it is first soaked. For young swine and 

 sows that are nursing their young, it is made into meal and 

 the meal is soaked. To horses it is more commonly fed in 

 the shelled form. 



The degree of the moisture in corn has a material in- 

 fluence on its feeding value. In new corn the moisture con- 

 tent varies from 20 to 25 per cent. In old corn, thoroughly 

 air dried, it is about 12 per cent. It loses moisture slowly, 

 hence the necessity for great care in storing, or it will 

 mould. In such a condition its value as food is greatly im- 

 paired. If fed in large or even in moderate quantities it is 

 positively dangerous. 



