MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEBIISra, 



309 



hand, the crude fibre of lucerne is decidedly less digestible 

 tliaii that of clover, the nitrogen-free extract of the two 

 fodders is about equally digestible, and the fat of lucerne, 

 like that of meadow hay, seems to be difficult of digestion. 



The large proportion of digestible protein which it con- 

 tains renders lucerne both absolutely and relatively a very 

 nitrogenous feeding-stuff. If fed exclusively, especially as 

 green fodder, it supplies an excess of protein, and hence 

 causes a w^aste of this valuable imtrient. It should there- 

 fore, in most cases, be used in connection with some feed- 

 ing-stuff poor in protein, such as roots or straw, to realize 

 the best effect. 



Vetches. — The coefficients given in the Appendix for 

 vetches, are the results of six digestion experiments made 

 in Ilohenheim on sheep. The fodder was of excellent 

 quality, cut at the very beginning of flowering, and cured 

 in fa\'orable weather; it is therefore not surprising that 

 the digestion coefficients were nearly the same as those of 

 the best clover hay, and for protein even higher. 



Like lucerne, the vetch is inclined to a rapid formation 

 of woody fibre after flowering, and deterioi-ates in quality. 

 In Waldau the following percentages of protein and crude 

 fibre were found in the water-free substance : 





Protein. 

 I'^er cent. 



Crude fibre, 

 l^er cent. 



CutMay23d 



*' Julymh 



25.4 

 13.8 



20.8 

 S9.8 



In the state in which vetches are generally used for fod- 

 der, however, they may safely be considered to have a 

 higher percentage of protehi than clover. 



