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Winter Feeding of Livesotck. [Nov., 



molasses soaked up in an absorbent such as spent hops, tapioca 

 meal, soya bean meal, sugar cane pith, apple pomace and 

 sphagnum moss. The chief disadvantage to the use of such 

 foods is that the absorbent used replaces a part of the straw 

 that would otherwise be consumed. Fed in such a way, too, the 

 molasses is more expensive to buy, and the farmer must decide 

 for himself whether the advantage gained in ease of handling 

 compensates him sufficiently for the extra cost. 



The Jonas Method of treating Straw to make it Palatable.— 



An alternative method of making straw palatable to stock and so 

 conserving hay supplies is that adopted by a Mr. Jonas some 50 

 or more years ago. This method consisted in chaffing the straw 

 when the corn is threshed in the spring, and mixing with the 

 chaff a green forage crop in the ratio of about 1 cwt. of green 

 crop per ton of straw. At the same time salt is added. As a 

 result of this treatment a slow fermentation process is set up, 

 and the cattle eat with avidity such chaff when fed in the winter 

 months. 



Putting the above principles into practice the writer suggests 

 the following rations as being suitable for root shortage condi- 

 tions. It is realised that such suggestions are general and may 

 not fit individual cases, but every effort has been made to pro- 

 vide for every case likely to arise in farming practice. Any 

 reader whose particular problem still requires solution is advised 

 to write in the first place to the Agricultural Organiser for his 

 County or, in the case of counties still without an Agricultural 

 Organiser, direct to the Ministry. 



Sheep. — In the case of sheep, the root shortage, and failure 

 to grow forage crops present a serious problem. Normally, sheep 

 will eat approximately 16 lb. of roots per head per day, and will 

 get in addition about f lb. of hay and a similar quantity of corn or 

 cake. In the case of a root shortage, the hay ration should be 

 increased to 2 J lb. per head per day and if hay is also scarce, 

 oat straw may be substituted for the hay. In these circumstances 

 a typical ration for sheep weighing 100 lb. will be : — 



When the roots have failed altogether, a forage crop of some 

 sort will generally have been drilled and either mustard, rape or 

 white turnips will be available. In the absence of any of these 

 fodder crops, the sheep can be comfortably wintered on hay, 



Per loeeh. 



A. 8 lb. hay, 7f lb. oat straw. 

 22 lb. swedes or kohl rabi. 

 5 lb. cake and corn. 



or B, 15 lb. hay. 



22 lb, swedes, 

 5 lb. cake and corn. 



