THE HAYS 



247 



The average chemical composition of timothy hay is as 

 follows : water, 13.2 per cent ; ash, 4.4 per cent ; crude 

 protein, 5.9 per cent ; crude fiber, 29.0 per cent ; nitrogen- 

 free extract, 45.0 per cent ; and fat, 2.5 per cent. Its net 

 energy value is 33.6 

 therms per 100 pounds. 



On account of its low 

 content of protein, it 

 cannot be regarded as 

 a satisfactory roughage 

 for growing or breed- 

 ing animals unless they 

 receive considerable 

 amounts of nitrogenous 

 concentrates in ad- 

 dition. Such animals 

 should have consider- 

 able wheat bran. If 

 fed as the exclusive 

 roughage to fattening 

 cattle and sheep, the 

 concentrates should be 

 rich in nitrogenous 

 feeds, as linseed meal, 

 gluten feed, cottonseed meal, or wheat bran. Even then the 

 results in most cases will not be as satisfactory as when corn 

 alone is fed with clover or alfalfa hay. Usually the market 

 value of timothy hay and the cost of the nitrogenous con- 

 centrates make it too expensive for such feeding. Timothy 

 hay is often given too high a value as a feed for the milk cow. 

 When it forms a large part of her roughage, a very large 



Fig. GL— Hairy vetf'h. 

 Plants.) 



(Piper, Forage 



