DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 171 



the better the straw is, so that spring sown cereals 

 give a more valuable feeding straw than do the 

 autumn sown. Oat, barley, and spring wheat 

 straws are of about equal value, and barley straw 

 is often preferred for feeding milch cattle without 

 any special reason being given. Autumn sown 

 straw, on account of its smaller nutritive value, is 

 generally used for litter, either before or after sheep 

 have picked it over. Straw that has grown and 

 been cut along with other plants — weeds, clover, 

 etc. — has a higher feeding value than straw from 

 well-cleaned fields. After lying for a long time 

 straw, like other coarse fodders, loses its aroma 

 and brightness, becomes crumbly, dusty, and flavour- 

 less, and is then best given as chaff mixed with 

 soft food. 



2. Straw from leguminous plants is considerably 

 more nutritious than cereal straw, and can equal 

 good meadow hay, or fairly good clover hay, in 

 feeding value. As a rule leguminous straw is 

 coarse stemmed, less palatable, often attacked by 

 moulds and liable to cause constipation. This is 

 especially the case with the straw from vetches, 

 beans, and peas, which sometimes causes sickness 

 similar to that noticed after feeding with lupines 

 (p. 165). A tenderer and more palatable straw is 

 got from lentils and serradella.. Leguminous straw 

 can only be fed as subsidiary food to cattle and 

 sheep ; horses do not eat it readily. 



