ROOTS AND SILAGE 383 



Field bean straw and bean pods are prized by feeders in Michi- 

 gan as tliey are valuable substitutes for clover hay. 



Carbonaceous Roughages. — In making use of carbonaceous 

 roughages, the concentrate part of the ration as stated elsewhere 

 should be comparatively rich in protein. Corn stover is palatable 

 and it is a good roughage if the com plant is cut fairly early, cured 

 well and kept in good condition. On account of the coarse stalks 

 the percentage of waste is high and the discarded parts do not 

 make very good bedding. 



Sorghum hay is about like com stover in feeding value. 



Oat and wheat straw are unsuited as the sole roughage in the 

 fattening ration. They can perhaps be used to best advantage in 

 combination with com silage, but good use can be made of them 

 in connection with legume hay. It is best to feed straw in rather 

 small quantities as the animals will eat more of it when fed in 

 that way than when given a supply large enough to last for 

 several days. 



The value of straw for feed depends in large part on its 

 quality. Short, fine, and bright oat straw, cut before the oat plants 

 are thoroughly ripe, is almost as palatable as legume hay. If straw 

 of good quality is available at one-third of the cost of legume 

 roughage, it will pay to feed some of it if given no oftener than 

 twice or three times a week. It furnishes a harmless change 

 which stimulates the consuming power of the animals. 



Timothy hay, market value considered, is an exceedingly poor 

 roughage for sheep as it is unpalatable and constipating. A mix- 

 ture of timothy and clover, however, makes a very good roughage 

 provided at least half of the mixture is clover. Marsh hay ranks 

 with timothy hay as a poor roughage. Neither is as good as good 

 oat straw. 



Prairie hay has been used extensively in fattening sheep where 

 self-feeders are used. It is fairly palatable, but considerably lower 

 in feeding value than the legume hays. A combination of legume 

 hay and good bright straw should give better results than prairie hay. 



Roots and Silage. — Eoots and silage are succulent feeds suit- 

 able for being used as supplements to grain and dry roughage. On 

 account of the cost of production, very little use is made of roots 

 in fattening sheep and lambs in the United States, but if they 



