CHAPTER XV 



ROOTS, TUBERS, AND MISCELLANEOUS FORAGES 



I. Roots and Tubers 



In northern Europe and in eastern Canada root crops are exten- 

 sively grown for stock, but in this country they have never been 

 widely used. Indeed, in 1909 over 5,000 acres of corn were raised in 

 the United States for each acre of roots grown for feeding. This dif- 

 ference is natural, for northern Europe, with its cool summers, is 

 well suited to growing roots but not corn. In most parts of our 

 country the summers are hot and this imperial grain and forage crop 

 thrives, furnishing in corn silage a palatable succulent feed cheaper 

 than roots. Therefore, growing roots for stock is advisable only in 

 those districts where the summers are too cool for corn, and on farms 

 in the corn belt where too few animals are kept to use silage econom- 

 ically, or where roots serve as a relish for show animals or dairy cows 

 on official test or for swine or poultry. 



Use and value of roots. — Since the dry matter of roots is as di- 

 gestible as that of the grains, roots should not be regarded as rough- 

 ages, but as watered concentrates. For dairy cows a pound of dry 

 matter in roots is as valuable as a pound of dry matter in corn or 

 barley, and roots can replace half the concentrates ordinarily fed, 

 without reducing the yield of milk or butter. In addition to the 

 nutrients they furnish, roots and other succulent feeds have a bene- 

 ficial tonic effect upon animals, and are especially helpful in keeping 

 breeding cattle, sheep, and swine in thrifty condition. Many suc- 

 cessful stockmen recommend roots highly for animals being fitted for 

 show and for dairy cows crowded to maximum production on official 

 tests. 



In this country the daily allowance of roots per 1,000 lbs. live 

 weight is from 25 to 50 lbs. or less, while in Great Britain it is often 

 100 lbs. or more. Roots are usually chopped or sliced before feeding 

 and often meal is sprinkled over them in the feed box. Considerable 

 straw and other low-grade roughage may be advantageously fed with 

 roots by following the English practice of pulping the roots, spread- 

 ing them in layers with chaffed straw or hay and shovelling the 

 mass over, and then feeding after several hours, when the roughage 



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