3 88 



PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



undergo decomposition if they contain more than 14 per cent, 

 water. 



Preparation of Feeds. Crushing or grinding the grain is often 

 of advantage, especially for certain kinds of animals, or for those 

 with defective teeth, when the grain is small or hard. The fol- 

 lowing shows the effect of feeding oats to horses, with chopped 

 hay: 



Per cent, 

 dry matter digested 



Whole oats 64.6 



Crushed oats 68.6 



Coarse ground oats 72.7 



Corn, rye, buckwheat, Kafir corn, milo maize, and leguminous 



seed, should best be ground for all animals. The following are 



some differences: 



In a number of experiments with pigs, the effect of grinding 

 the corn was to reduce by six per cent, the quantity needed for 

 the same gain in weight. Moistening the feed prevents its being 

 blown away and prevents the fine particles of meal from getting 

 in the eyes or lungs. Cooking, scalding, or steaming kills weed 

 seeds, injurious molds or bacteria, and animal parasites, but as a 

 rule, decreases the digestibility of the feed. Cooked or steamed 

 food, however, is valuable for pigs. The following shows the 

 effect of cooking: 



Digestibility of protein 



