SECTION I 



Plants Dangerous When Included in Hay and 

 Coarse Feeds* 



Certain animals are poisoned by hay, straw, ensilage, 

 etc., when they could have pastured with impunity on 

 the fields where the feed was raised. There are several 

 reasons why this is so. In the first place, animals in pas- 

 ture have a better chance to pick their food. The plants 

 grow up separately and distinct from each other, and 

 there is usually enough wholesome feed to allow of a 

 choice. It thus often happens that a weed, refused 

 by an animal in pasture, may be eaten when cured 

 and mixed with the hay. This is especially so where the 

 amount or concentration of the ration is insufficient. 

 Again, certain weeds which are eaten with impunity in 

 pasture may cause trouble when eaten by an animal con- 

 fined to a non-succulent ration. The laxative nature of 

 the green grass and the freedom of exercise give the ani- 

 mal in pasture or on the range a much better chance to 

 overcome the effects of toxic substances. It may also be 

 pointed out that moulds and bacteria grow on forage 

 under conditions that would rarely if ever obtain in the 

 field. 



17 



