344 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



live stock on dry food, as in the case of field roots, they have 

 a physiological value in addition to the food which they 

 furnish (see p. 51). 



For cattle of all classes, squash may, of course, be 

 fed. when they can be spared for such feeding, but they 

 are most prized for producing milk and are, therefore, more 

 frequently fed to cows than to other classes of cattle. 

 Where large areas are grown for the market, rejected 

 squash, usually available in large quantities, may be turned 

 to good account by feeding them to cows in milk. No harm 

 probably will result from feeding them in liberal supply 

 when they can be spared, unless the amount fed should too 

 much relax the bowels. Usually, however, the most profit 

 is made by feeding such adjuncts in moderate quantities, 

 otherwise the benefit resulting in addition to nutrients fur- 

 nished, may not be secured to the fullest extent. When the 

 pastures dry in the autumn, squashes make an excellent 

 supplementary food. 



By sheep, squashes are much relished, though for a time 

 they may refuse to eat them if not accustomed to them. Es- 

 pecially is this true of lambs. When fed to sheep in the 

 autumn before the rinds have too much hardened, they will 

 materially aid in promoting growth in lambs that have 

 been weaned, and in bringing flesh to breeding flocks. 



For swine, squash are an excellent adjunct when fed in 

 the autumn. The most profit, when the labor in- 

 volved is considered, is probably obtained from feeding 

 them in the autumn along with new corn fed in the stalk or 

 in the snapped form. The squashes are available at such a 

 time, the rinds are less hard than later, and when fed at that 

 season the cost of storing is avoided. Moreover, they fur- 

 nish an excellent adjunct to such corn feeding, as they have 

 a corrective influence on the digestion. A few weeks of 

 such feeding aids in a marked degree in fitting the system 

 for the heavy grain feeding that follows during the fatten- 

 ing period. For such feeding, one good sized squash fed 

 daily to an animal weighing about 150 pounds will serve a 



