262 



MAKUAL OF CATTLl^-FEEDIKG. 



aration of lucerne hay amounted to 7.13 per cent, of tlio 

 dry matter, and the composition and digestibility of the 

 resulting product, as compared with that obtained by dry- 

 ing the same material without los^s, were as follows : 





Composition. 



Digestibility. 





without loss. 



Hay. 



Dried 

 without loss. 



Hay. 



Protein 



17.00 

 31.81 



43.80 



7.39 



14.94 

 33.90 



44 32 



6.94 

 100.00 



71 

 48 



29 



67 



Crude fibre 



45 



Nitrogen-free extract ) 



Fat ) 



Ash 



62 

 23 









100.00 





Efifeet of Storing. — ^The storing of fodder for a long 

 time, even when all necessary precautions, such as a dry 

 and airy location, etc., are observed, may decrease both its 

 digestibility and palatability. 



At least, this conclusion can be drawn from some experi- 

 ments executed in Hohenheim.* Of the crude protein of 

 a sample of rowen, 62 per cent, was found digestible 

 directly after the harvest, while three months later 56 per 

 cent., and in the following spring 54 per cent., of the total 

 quantity was digested by the sam'e animals. The digesti- 

 bility of the crude fibre also decreased somewhat, while 

 that of the other nutrients remained about the same. A 

 similar fact was observed by Ilofmeisterf in regard to 

 clover hay, and essentially the same results were also ob- 

 tained in later experiments in Hohenheim. 



*Landw. Jabrbuclier, II, 382. 



f Landw. Tersucbs-Stationen, XVI., 353. 



