60 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



which are soluble in fats and also in the ether which the chemist uses 

 to dissolve the fat from a feed. 



Studies of this character are beginning to open up new fields of 

 investigation in animal nutrition. It is yet too early to predict in 

 what manner or to what extent the results may modify our present 

 practices in feeding farm animals. These fragments are, however, 

 most interesting to the student in showing the limitations to our 

 present understanding of the feeding of animals and in pointing out 

 the possible path of future development. 



Feeding concentrates alone to animals. — By reason of their high 

 ability to digest coarse roughage, ruminants are especially adapted to 

 convert the coarse plant materials of no value for human food into 

 useful products. Tho ordinarily it would be unprofitable to feed 

 such animals solely on concentrates, the question whether they can 

 be so maintained is of scientific interest. Dry dairy cows have been 

 kept thru the winter in fair condition on corn meal with no hay. At 

 first they were restless, *but soon quieted down and rumination, or 

 chewing the cud, ceased. A 2-year-old steer was fed for nearly eight 

 months exclusively on grain, and sheep are not infrequently fed only 

 grain and roots. We may therefore conclude that mature ruminants 

 can be maintained for considerable periods, if not indefinitely, on 

 concentrates alone. With young ruminants Nature is less yielding, 

 for all attempts to raise calves on milk and grain without hay or other 

 roughage have ended in failure. Apparently some coarse feed is 

 needed to fill the first three stomachs so they may develop properly. 



Efforts to keep horses on oats alone were unsuccessful, the horses 

 refusing the oats after a few days. Evidently horses cannot live on 

 concentrates alone, even oats with their straw-like hulls. On the other 

 hand, pigs can be maintained without roughage. A 23-lb. sow pig 

 was raised solely on milk and when about 1 year old gave birth to a 

 litter of vigorous pigs. 



Succulent feeds. — Numerous scientific trials and common farm 

 experience have abundantly demonstrated the value of adding succu- 

 lent feeds to the rations of farm animals. The beneficial effects of 

 succulence, whether supplied as pasturage, silage, soilage, or roots, 

 are many. Just as our own appetites are stimulated by fruits and 

 vegetables, succulent feeds are relishes for the animals of the farm, 

 inducing them to consume more feed and economically convert it into 

 useful products. It is reasonable to hold that such palatable feeds 

 stimulate digestion and it is well known that their beneficial laxative 

 effect aids in keeping the digestive tract in good condition. Among 

 the most important contributions of the experiment stations are their 

 demonstrations of the economy of feeding silage to milch cows, fatten- 



