MANUxVL OF OATTLE-FEEBINd 32l> 



barley straw would, doubtless, also be Liglier, and the lat- 

 ter would prove to be a valuable straw for feeding. 



The relative digestibility of the constituents of winter 

 straw is much the same as that of summer straw. The 

 coefficients of the former, however, are usually somewhat 

 lower, corresponding to the difference in composition. 



This is the case only in a slight degree with the nitrogen- 

 free extract and the fat, but is more noticeable in the case 

 of protein and the crude fibre, as deduced from the accor- 

 dant results of experiments made at Weende, Dahme, and 

 Salzmiinde on rye straw (in a single case only on wheat 

 straw). 



It has been already stated that the digestion coefficient 

 for protein in feeding-stuffs having so little of this nutri- 

 ent as the straw of the cereals, may easily be found too 

 low on account of the admixture of biliary and other pro- 

 ducts in the excrements. At the same time, the straw used 

 in most of these experiments was comparatively rich in 

 protein, and at any rate the numbers thus obtained must 

 be used until they can be replaced by more accurate ones. 



Manner of Using.—Large quantities of straw m a 

 ration are more suitable for n^minants than for the horse, 

 since the former, on account of their large stomach, and 

 the length and complexity of their digestive canal, are 

 better able to utilize large masses of coarse fodder. For 

 swine, straw is not well adapted. 



^ mong ruminants, the sheep is better adapted than the 



• ot^aw. _ By means of its pointed month and 



.. 4ir)i. it to seek out the most valuable 



''--t grains which have es- 



~' «nd the ears 



