DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 201 



Rape and colza cakes and the meals made from 

 them have the peculiarity of yielding a pungent, 

 volatile oil — mustard oil — when moistened with 

 water. This may cause many unpleasant symp- 

 toms and diseases of the digestive and urinary 

 organs, abortion in cows, loss of flesh, are said to 

 be the results when much of this food is given. 

 The milk from cows fed on rape cake is also said to 

 have an unpleasant taste, and to have an effect on 

 the health of infants, or calves, to which it is given. 

 European rape and colza seeds and their by-pro- 

 ducts are thought to be preferable to some foreign 

 varieties, cakes made from Indian seed having 

 frequently been proved to be injurious to the 

 health of animals. Although these properties of 

 the different kinds of rape seed require further 

 investigation, it is only right that the origin of the 

 seeds in " rape cake " should be given in each case, 

 particularly as the Indian seed is cheaper than the 

 European. 



On account of the smell of mustard, which rape 

 cake gives when moistened, it should always be fed 

 dry, otherwise it may not be eaten. Milch cows 

 should not get more than 2 lbs., fattening and 

 draught oxen up to 4 lbs., and sheep less than i lb. 

 Rape cake is not suitable for young stock on account 

 of the obstinate scouring which.it sometimes causes. 

 Pigs ought only to get J lb. per day, otherwise the 

 bacon is apt to be oily. A material called " rape 



