34 Wyoming Experiment Station. 



Average Digestion Coefficients of Native Hay (Western Wheat 

 Grass), Experiments IV and V. 



Nitrogen- 

 Dry Ether Crude Crude free 

 matter Ash extract fiber protein extract 



Exp. IV, Sheep KK 63.50 31.35 40.79 67.26 58.77 67.20 



Exp. V, Sheep K 67.10 32.25 45.88 73.56 56.57 70.11 



Exp. V, Sheep KK 63.33 28.29 38.09 69.07 53.44 66.82 



AVERAGE 64.64 3O.63 41.59 69.96 56.26 68.O4 



It appears that ours is the only station thus far which has 

 taken up the study of this, one of our Western native hays, to 

 determine its feeding value. The Colorado Experiment Station 

 Bulletin 93 has published results with native hay, which is the 

 Slender Wheat Grass (Agropyron tenerum). 



The average results are as follows : 



Nitrogen- 

 Dry Ether Crude Crude free 

 matter Ash extract fiber protein extract 



Series No. 1 59.78 43.32 47.09 61.36 60.90 62.01 



Series No. 2 50.53 42.52 20.55 55.56 62.33 51.30 



AVERAGE 55.15 42.92 38.82 58.46 61.61 56.65 



The digestion coefficients of the Western Wheat Grass 

 average higher than the average coefficients of the Slender 

 Wheat Grass in all except the crude protein and ash. Practical 

 experience has proven that the Western Wheat Grass is an 

 excellent fodder, and our results show the Western Wheat 

 Grass to be more nutritious, pound for pound, than timothy, 

 which at the present time commands a higher price upon the 

 Utah markets. 



It has been difficult up to the present time in many parts 

 of the state to produce Western Wheat Grass hay free from 

 foxtail, which of necessity depreciates the value of the crop, 

 because of the deleterious effect of foxtail upon the animals 

 feeding upon it. As the country is farmed to a greater extent, 

 closer cultivation will tend to eliminate this objectional plant, 

 and then the native hay composed of Western Wheat Grass 

 will be of greater value to stock growers and feeders than 

 timothy hay. 



