MA-NTJAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIJSTa. 



wliicli liaj can usually be sufBciently cured in a single day, 

 liay is far less exposed to damage from rain tlian is tlie 

 case in the moist climate of Germany and#Engiand. At 

 tlie same time it is impossible to altogether avoid it, and it 

 is therefore of interest to know its effects on the hay. 



Both analysis and digestion experiments confirm the 

 common observation that hay which has been wet is dim- 

 inished in value. A loss of crude protein and nitrogen-free 

 extract, and a relative increase in the crude fibre, are gen- 

 erally observed, combined with a decreased digestibility. 



Stage of G-ro^wth. — As has been already pointed out 

 (p. 33), plants while still young and rapidly growing con- 

 tain i*elatively more protein and less fibre than more ma- 

 ture ones. Consequently, early-cut fodder must, other 

 things being equal, be of better quality than late-cut. This 

 is well illustrated by the following analyses, executed at 

 Ilohenheim,^ of hay cut at three different times from the 

 same meadow : 



WATBK-FREB S0BSTANCB. 



Out. 



Trotein, 

 Per cent. 



Cnide fibre. 

 Per cent. 



Fat 

 Per cent. 



Nitrogen- 

 free extract 

 Per cent. 



43.91 

 43.27 

 43.34 



Per cent. 



May 14, 1877 



June 9, '' 



<* 26, '' 



18.97 



11.16 



8.40 



24,70 

 S4.88 

 38.15 



3 42 



2.74 

 2 71 



9.50 

 7.95 

 7.34 



The table shows a decrease of crude protein and m in- 

 crease of crude fibre, both of which impair the quality of 

 the fodder. 



Furthermore, we have seen (p. 263) that early-cut fodder, 



* Landw. JaJirTbucher, VIII. , I. Supplement, 54. 



