264 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



Stances, tubers also are fed as potatoes and artichokes. 

 The feeding of legumes in the green form does not grow 

 rapidly in favor, owing, probably, to the greater amount 

 of nutriment an acre that can be obtained from corn, 

 and that the quality obtained from it is frequently 

 superior. Potatoes, though never grown directly to fur- 

 nish succulence for cows, are sometimes fed to them 

 when low in price. In adaptation for milk production, 

 they do not rank high, since they are rich in carbohy- 

 drates rather than in protein. The labor of preparing 

 them for feeding is also considerable, as they should be 

 sliced to avoid the hazard of choking the cows. The 

 labor entailed in handling artichokes makes it probable 

 that they will also seldom be much grown to provide 

 succulence for cows. 



Viewed from the standpoints of relative production, 

 cost and suitability taken together, corn ensilage is with- 

 out a rival in providing winter succulence for cows. The 

 sorghums are also well adapted for such a use, but will 

 never become so popular as corn, where the latter will 

 grow equally well with the former, as corn is more easily 

 grown, and the hazard is less that it will produce en- 

 silage over-acid, a hazard that is present especially with 

 sweet sorghum, unless it is put into the silo at a proper 

 stage of maturity. The suitability of corn increases with 

 increase in the grain which it contains, combined with a 

 lack of excessive coarseness in the stalk. 



Many attempts have been made to add to the pro- 

 tein in the ensilage in order to furnish a food in better 

 balance. The foods thus used include alfalfa, clover, 

 cowpeas, soy beans, and sunflowers. It cannot be said 

 that these efforts have been entirely successful, viewed 

 from the standpoint of economy. To have the protein 

 food reach the stage which best fits it for being ensiled 

 at the same time that the corn is at the proper stage, 

 has been found difficult. The extra time incurred in the 

 harvesting of the two crops simultaneously has also 



