274 THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



steers, sheep, or horses requires in many localities only a 

 good pasture and plenty of dried fodder and grain, 

 although some succulent 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. 



368. Productive capacity of crops. — ^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 an 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 necessary to step outside grass and grain farm- 

 ing, where long rotations are practised and where a 

 major part of the farm is kept in meadow grasses and 

 only small areas are devoted to cultivated crops. Rapid 

 rotation and the use of the more grossly feeding crops 

 are necessary to a vigorous development of the resources 

 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 locali- 

 ties. 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 application is 

 possible. Of course, other things outside of quantity of 

 production are not generally equal. The cost of pro- 

 duction varies so that the largest yielding crop is not 

 necessarily the most economical. This is a local matter 

 also, concerning which no safe general statement can be 

 made. It would be convenient if some correct, universal 

 standards of production and cost could be formulated 

 for the guidance of farmers, but both growth and cost are 



