260 The Feeding of Animals 



ing in the summer and exclusive dry food in the 

 winter. To attain the best results the pasture must 

 be amended by soiling crops, at least during late sum- 

 mer and early autumn, and a succulent food is a de- 

 cided improvement to a winter ration. On the other 

 hand, the successful growing of steers, sheep or horses 

 requires in many localities only a good pasture and 

 plenty of dried fodder and grain, although some suc- 

 culent foods are desirable with any class of animals. 

 Every feeder, no matter what his line of business, 

 should have at command quite a variety of fodders. 



3. The productive capacity of the different crops 

 used as cattle foods is greatly unlike. A satisfactory 

 crop of maize or alfalfa contains greatly more dry 

 matter per acre than one of oats, peas, or any of the 

 usual meadow grasses, and in order that land may 

 yield a maximum supply of feeding stuffs it is neces- 

 sary to step outside grass and grain farming, where 

 long rotations are practiced and where a major part of 

 the farm is kept in meadow grasses and only small 

 areas are devoted to cultivated crops. Rapid rota- 

 tion and the use of the more grossly feeding crops 

 are necessary to a vigorous development of the re- 

 sources of any land for the maintenance of animal 

 husbandry. 



Other things being equal, the most desirable crop 

 is the one producing the largest amount of digestible 

 dry matter. This will not be the same crop for all 

 localities. In one section it may be maize, in another 

 alfalfa, or in another roots. The selection must be 

 determined by circumstances, and no rule of general 



