BULLETIJSr ]Sro. 197 



DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY. 



THE NUTRITI\^ VALUE OF CATTLE FEEDS. 



1. VELVET BEAN FEED FOR FARM STOCK. 



BY J. B. LINDSEY AND C. L. BEALS. 



Summary of Results with Suggestions. 



1. Velvet bean feed consists of the ground seeds and pods of 

 the velvet bean, a leguminous plant grown quite largely in the 

 southern States. 



2. In chemical composition it resembles vrheat bran, but con- 

 tains rather more fiber, due to the presence of the bean pods. 



3. As a result of digestion studies it was found to contain about 

 130 pounds, or 11.5 per cent, more digestible organic nutrients per 

 ton than does wheat bran, and as a component of the dairy ration 

 one would expect somewhat better results from its use. 



4. Two feeding experiments were made with groups of six and 

 four cows, in which the ration consisted of hay and a grain ration 

 of 20 per cent cottonseed meal, 40 per cent corn feed meal, and 40 

 per cent velvet bean feed or wheat bran. The results show that the 

 cows while receiving the velvet bean ration produced 2,7 and 9 per 

 cent, with an average of 5 per cent, more milk than while on the 

 wheat bran ration. It seems safe, therefore, to conclude that the 

 velvet bean feed is somewhat superior to wheat bran for dairy 

 purposes. 



5. It may constitute as high as 40 per cent of a dairy ration, 

 together with a like amount of corn or hominy meal or ground 

 oats, and some 20 per cent of cottonseed or linseed meal, or other 

 high-grade protein concentrate. 



6. As a food for pigs a ration composed by weight of 50 parts corn 

 feed meal, 40 parts velvet bean feed, and 10 parts digester tankage, 



