306 



MANUAL OF CATTLTS-ITEEDING. 



dry matter, viz., 3.8 per cent, of protein, 20.6 per cent, of 

 nitrogen-free extract, and 3 per cent, of ash. Tlie percent- 

 age composition of tlie two samples of hay in the air-dry 

 state (containing 16 per cent, of water) was as follows: 





No. 1. 



No. 2 



Water. 



16.0 

 146 

 25.3 

 36.1 

 8.0 



16 



Protein , , 



15.8 



Crude fibre 



87.4 



Nitrogen-free extract and fat 



23.4 



Ash , 



75 







It appears at first sight that No. 3, instead of having 

 deteriorated, was rather improved in quality, since it con- 

 tains 1.3 per cent, more crude protein than No. 1. 



The increase is, however, only apparent, and is due to 

 the fact that relatively more non-nitrogenous than nitro- 

 genous nutrients are removed from clover by water ; so 

 that there may be a loss of protein and, at the same time, 

 an increase of its percentage quantity in the residual fodder. 



The protein remaining in the hay, however, must be the 

 less digestible portions, and the amount of digestible pro- 

 tein would doubtless be greater in the good hay. 



The great relative increase in the crude fibre deserv^es 

 notice. It is, of course, due to the loss of the more soluble 

 ingredients, and must tend to decrease still further the 

 digestibility and value of the hay. These facts explain 

 why, in practice, clover hay is sometimes met wiijh which, 

 although it contains considerable protein, is of the poorest 

 quality, because it contains at the same time much crude 

 fibre and little extract and is very coarse and indigestible. 



