FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



returns from an acre of field roots cannot be made as large 

 relatively or as profitable as those from an acre of corn 

 under some conditions of growth, that conclusion may be 

 safely challenged. The favorable influence that the moder- 

 ate or even light feeding of field roots exercises on the di- 

 gestion of the animals (see p. 51), gives field roots a value 

 far in excess of the nutrients which they contain. 



The following conclusions with reference to the rela- 

 tive value of these and of corn will probably be found cor- 

 rect: (i) That in the main, under United States condi- 

 tions, corn should be made the leading food crop for live 

 stock rather than roots, but in some parts of Canada, be- 

 cause of climatic conditions, the reverse should be true. (2) 

 That corn has much higher adaptation for fattening than 

 field roots, hence they should be fed sparingly if fed at all 

 to animals being fattened. (3) That field roots are so well 

 adapted to milk production that, under many conditions, 

 they may be fed for such a use, even in conjunction with 

 corn and more especially with dry corn fodder. (4) That 

 field roots have higher adaptation for young animals than 

 corn, and that in consequence, the farmer should aim to 

 provide young animals with such food even in areas well 

 suited to the growing of corn. 



The root crops discussed are: (i) Mangels, (2) sugar 

 beets, (3) rutabagas and turnips and (4) carrots. The tu- 

 bers dwelt upon are : (i) Irish potatoes, (2) sweet pota- 

 toes, (3) artichokes and (4) cassava. The miscellaneous 

 crops, included in the discussion are: (i) Cabbage, (2) 

 pumpkins, (3) squash and (4) peanuts. The tops of roots 

 and tubers are also considered with reference to their feed- 

 ing value. 



Mangels. Mangels may be successfully grown in 

 some portion of every state in the Union and of every 

 province of Canada. Although they grow best where the 

 temperatures are moderate and the climate is reasonably 

 moist, they will stand more heat and drought than rutabagas 

 or turnips. The yields ordinarily run all the way from ten 



