194 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



is moistened and softened. In the northern states, roots must be 

 stored in winter in well-ventilated pits or cellars; in mild climates 

 they may remain in the fields until fed. In Great Britain sheep are 

 often grazed on root crops, saving the labor of harvesting. 



Roots vs. corn silage. — To grow, harvest, and store an acre of roots 

 costs considerably more than to grow an acre of corn and ensile it, 

 because root crops require more thoro preparation of the soil and far 

 more hand labor in cultivation, harvesting, and storage. IMoreover, 

 trials at three stations show that corn silage will yield on the average 

 from 68 to 92 per ct. more dry matter per acre than mangels, sugar 

 beets, or rutabagas. Where corn thrives corn silage will furnish dry 

 matter at half the cost of roots or less, and in trials with dairy cows 

 the dry matter of corn silage has proven fully as valuable as that of 

 roots. AVe should remember that roots are much more watery than 

 silage and that 100 lbs. of roots are therefore worth correspondingly 

 less than 100 lbs. of corn silage. Trials with fattening lambs show 

 100 lbs. of corn silage is equal to 150 lbs. of roots in feeding value. 



The mangel. — The mangel, or mangel wurzel, is the most watery of 

 roots, containing but 9.4 per ct. dry matter. Yet, due to its enor- 

 mous yield — 20 to 30 tons per acre on good soil and sometimes more 

 — it produces a large amount of dry matter per acre. Because it 

 stands well out of the ground, this root is much more easily culti- 

 vated and harvested than the sugar beet and it keeps better in winter. 

 Mangels are useful for all farm animals, except possibly horses. 

 However, if fed to rams or wethers for long periods, both mangels 

 and sugar beets produce dangerous calculi, or stones, in the urinary 

 organs. Mangels should not be fed until after storage for a few 

 weeks, as freshly harvested roots may cause scouring. Half-sugar 

 mangels, crosses between sugar beets and mangels, are richer in dry 

 matter than mangels. 



Sugar beet. — This root has been so developed for sugar production 

 that some strains now contain 16 per ct. or more of sugar. The yield 

 is smaller than that of mangels, but, due to the higher sugar content, 

 sugar beets generall}^ produce as much dry matter per acre. They 

 demand more labor in cultivating and harvesting than mangels, as 

 they set deep in the ground. They are well-liked by stock and are 

 often fed to dairy cows on test. 



Where beets are grown for sugar factories, the cull beets and the 

 tops and leaves should be fed to stock. The tops and leaves may be 

 fed fresh or they may be ensiled, either alone or with an equal weight 

 of dry corn fodder, water being added in the latter case so that the 

 mass will pack well. 



Rutabaga. — The rutabaga, or swede,, extensively grown in Great 



