276 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



with the cut fodder, it is not so necessary, of course, to 

 cut all the fodder, but only a small portion of it. Any kind 

 of roughage that is even reasonably palatable will effect 

 the end sought, as the blending of the meal insures the 

 consumption of the fodder. When the roughage con- 

 sists entirely of good hay, it is not usual to chaff it. But 

 when a part of it is straw of the small cereals it is fre- 

 quently chaffed and fed admixed with hay similarly pre- 

 pared, which insures a larger consumption of the straw. 

 Corn and sorghum stalks are, in some instances, chaffed 

 and mixed with cut hay with a similar object in view. 

 The profit from such blending will be influenced by 

 various considerations, but most of all the cost of labor. 

 That it will insure a more perfect consumption of the 

 foods grown on the farm is certain ; hence, as conditions 

 become intensive, the blending of concentrates will grow 

 in favor. 



Where ensilage is fed through all the season, which 

 calls for the feeding of other roughage, the labor put 

 upon the latter in preparing it for feeding will probably 

 be kept at a minimum. It will probably be restricted 

 chiefly to the shredding of corn fodder or stover, but it 

 is different when roots are fed in place of ensilage. They 

 must usually be prepared for feeding to cows bv slic- 

 ing or pulping them. When fed thus directly, meal may 

 be thrown on them to insure admixture, as when silage 

 is fed. But a further purpose may be served by the 

 roots. If the fodders are chaffed and the roots are simul- 

 taneously pulped, and the two are blended in a feed room, 

 the consumption of much fodder will be insured that 

 would otherwise be rejected. The same power may be 

 utilized in preparing the respective foods for being 

 blended. Enough may thus be prepared to last for a 

 week at a time. WHien the fodder thus blended is put 

 into the mangers the concentrates may be spread over 

 it. No method of feeding can be devised that is more 

 economical of food. The serious factor involved is the 



