984. FORAGE CROPS 
“Tt will be noted that all the cows were fed 
roots, but two lots were fed roots containing seven 
and one-half pounds of dry matter, equal to about 
sixty-five pounds of fresh roots, instead of four 
and one-half pounds of dry matter, equal to about 
forty pounds of fresh roots. The additional three 
pounds of dry matter in the first-mentioned cases 
gave as good results as an equal amount of cereal 
grains, the cereals consisting either of Indian corn 
or of a mixture of barley, oats and rye. Roots, like 
the cereals, are highly digestible, perhaps even 
more digestible than the cereal grains, and herein 
probably lies their high value. From the stand- 
point of the results which they produce, the roots 
may be looked on as watered concentrates. They 
have, apparently, a high net available energy.” 
Yield of mangels per acre 
When conditions are favorable, the tonnage 
yield is very much greater than can be secured 
from corn or other forage crops, frequently reach- 
ing as high as twenty-five to thirty tons per aere, 
although the total dry matter is much less than for 
a smaller tonnage of corn, cowpeas, or other suc- 
culent forage, and the labor involved is relatively 
greater per unit of dry matter. The greater ex- 
pense of the mangel crop is due in large part to 
the extra cost of cultivation. 
