Composition and Nutritive Value of Straw. 



woody fibre, which, if digestible at all, is only partially, assimi- 

 lated in the system. Still, assuming that not more than one-third 

 of the weight of straw is digested by cattle and probably less by 

 horses and sheep, and granting that the assimilable part is not 

 food of the most nutritious character, straw will still have to be 

 regarded as a more economical feeding material than any other 

 which can be supplied. ,It is undoubtedly a fact that some prac- 

 tical feeders are in the possession of the secret of converting con- 

 siderable quantities ' of straw into beef. What this secret is, 

 perhaps, is not known even to themselves. It may be that the 

 combination in which straw is given, or the preparation to 

 which it is submitted before it is placed in the feeding-troughs, 

 has something to do with the success that attends its use ; but it 

 is yet more probable that on farms where straw is largely and 

 economically cut into chaff and given to cattle, its condition, 

 from early harvesting and other influences, is better than in other 

 localities where the practice prevails of allowing corn to become 

 over-ripe before it is cut. In consequence of this mischievous' 

 practice, straw gets more woody and less digestible than it 

 would have been had the corn-crop been cut earlier. Further on 

 several analyses will be given to show how much the composition 

 and nutritive value of straw depend on the condition in which it is 

 harvested. Indeed, the differences in the composition of somewhat 

 under-ripe and over-ripe wheat or oat straw, are greater than the 

 variations which may be noticed on comparing with each other 

 the composition of wheat, oat, and barley straw. No very broad 

 or permanent distinction, in fact, exists between wheat, oat, and 

 barley straw. It would appear that in certain districts each 

 variety in its turn becomes superior as food each kind is pre- 

 ferred and exclusively retained for that purpose ; whilst, in 

 other districts, each is consumed for litter. Moreover, the 

 natural preference shown by stock for one kind or the other 

 affords a practical evidence that the farmer in each case may 

 have a good reason for the choice which suits his locality. We 

 must therefore always expect to meet with great diversity of 

 opinion amongst practical men respecting the nutritive value of 

 wheat, oat, and barley straw. That pea-haulm is too good to be 

 trodden into manure is admitted by all. When properly got in, 

 pea-straw is, indeed, a valuable feeding substance. With respect 

 to the nutritive properties of bean-stalks, again, great diversity 

 of opinion prevails some considering them almost as nutritious 

 as clover-hay, and others only fit for litter. 



The ash or the inorganic part of many varieties of wheat, oat, 

 and barley straw, as well as of bean and pea straw, has been 

 carefully examined by different chemists. Whilst we have on 

 record a large number of reliable ash-analyses, comparatively 



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