COARSE FEEDS, OR ROUGHAGE 113 



ROOT CROPS 



Although all farm animals relish roots, these crops can- 

 not usually be grown with profit in America, on account of 

 the high cost of labor. In Canada and northern United 

 States, roots may be grown with great success on fertile soils, 

 but south of latitude 40, as a rule they do not yield so well. 



The mangold, or mangel-wurzel, a large, coarse beet, is 

 the most easily and cheaply grown of the roots used for stock 

 feeding. The roots consist of about 90 per cent water, and 

 of the dry matter only 1 per cent or even less is protein. 

 A yield of 10 tons per acre is not uncommon. The chief 

 virtue of the roots is that they are succulent and are most 

 palatable, and keep the digestive organs of the animal in a 

 healthy, open condition. They are usually fed after being 

 run through a pulping or slicing machine, which puts the 

 root in nice shape for feeding. Many feeders in England 

 and Scotland, where roots are extensively used, mix the 

 sliced root with chaffed hay or straw and grain, which com- 

 bination makes a fine ration. One may feed cattle as high 

 as 100 pounds of roots a day, but, as a rule, about 40 or 50 

 pounds is best. Sheep do especially well on roots, and in 

 Great Britain and Canada from 5 to 7 pounds per day are 

 commonly fed to these animals. 



Carrots are slightly more nutritious than mangolds, but 

 are more difficult to grow, and do not yield so large a crop. 

 A large amount of labor is required in cultivating the carrot 

 in its early growth, which serves to discourage the growing 

 of this really excellent root. They are raised especially for 

 horses, and fed to them with more success than other roots. 

 Swede turnips, fiat turnips, and rutabagas are all good 

 for stock and have much the same wholesome effect as man- 

 gels and carrots. They do not yield as heavily, however, 

 as the mangold, and thus are more expensive to produce. 

 Swede turnips are very popular among British stockmen, for 

 they yield excellent crops, and are much relished by sheep. 



