Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-11
MILLET AND STOCK.

In on millets. and Is by Thomas a. VII
Iiams. assistant agrostologist. Under
the heading. Reported righteousness OF
Foxtail Millet Forage" the author says
that I'm some sections OF the country the
foxtail millets (of which there are seve-
raj varleties) have gained the reputation
Of being harmful to certain kinds OF
stock and are, therefore. regarded with
suspicion by many farmers and stock
men. IL we mistake not. the Dispatch
not long ago printed accounts OF losses
by death OF stock In one section OF this
state. that could only be accounted for
on the ground that the animals had been
mlllet fed. Therefore. some OF the
further observations OF Mr.. Williams
on foxtail millet forage may be of in
terest and value to our Virginia farm
ers.
Like many other forage plants. says
Mr. Williams. these millets become
very harsh and woody with age. AT TINS
stage OF growth the boards are stiff
and rough, and arc not only difficult
10 digest, but produce more or less irri-
tation in the digestive tract Of the ami
NAL. and sometimes unite with other
lndigestible substances, forming COM
pact balls in the stomach. ultimately
causing death. This difficulty may be
avoided by cutting the hay in proper
seasor. No more trouble seems to have
teen experienced in feeding tho milets
In the fresh state than with any other
succulent forage. Most of the injury
has arisen from feeding the hay liz
largo quantities with little or no other
grain or forage and for extended periods
In this connection the following is given
as the lesson Of an extended experiment
conducted at the North Dakota Expert
ment Station 20 determine what, If any
deleterious effects would accrue 10 horses
from a continued diet in which millet
hay replaced that ordinarily used in the
ration:
THE animals were grained, watered,
and otherwise cared for as usual. AT
the end OF tho experiment DR.. Hine-
bauch, the veterinarian OF the station
concluded that millei,. when used alone
as a coarse food IS injurious to horses
first, In producing an increased ACTON
of the kidneys: second. in causing lame
ness and swelling of the joints; third, in
producing infusion OF blood into the
Joints: fourth, in detroyiDg the texture
OF tho bone, rendering it softer and less
tenacious, 20 that traction causes the
ligaments and muscles TO be torn loose.
These results seem 10 show conclusive
Nv that under certain conditions millet
hav becomes injurious TO horses At least,
If NOT to other stock also. Ihis agrees
TOO with tho general experience OF Iarip-
ers and stockmen, that long continued
diet of nillet hay, particularly nay IN
Moon, condition. tends to weaken horses
and unit them Tor doing hard work.
Mr.. Williams then goes on TO note that
Professor Laird. of the same expert
mert station. has made a chemical
study Of millet hay, in which he sue
ceeded IN isolating a glucosido which ne
calls Setarian, and which, from its physi-
illogical action on mice, rats, ard young
cats. he concludes to DO the cause Of
thu injury to horses and other stock"
and then adds:
"Millet IN any stage OF growth acts
as a laxative and diuretic. AT times
the action is moro pronounced than at
others. Thus hay out while tho plants
are quite young seems TO be most
strongly laxative. whilo oyerripe hay IS
most strongly diuretio However, II the
hay IS cut at the right stage OF growth
and properly cured. the action in either
case will not be sufficient 10 lead to Sc
rious results If other hay or coarse forage
is fed along with the millet. one feed
~ rnillet hay per day FOR work horses,
and one or two for other stock. is suih-
Gent. and when fed in this manner the
millet acts as u stimuiant and Alternative
and tends TO produce and MAINTAIN
healthy condition Of the animals
In the directions for harvesting fox
tail millets, 1t is stated that cutting for
hay should never be delayed until the
seed has begun to ripen, particularly II
il is TO be fed to horses. on the other
hand il is best not to cut too early,
as the hay is liable 20 have more or
less laxative effect upon the animals
eating if. However, II is better cut early
than late. The hay may be safely cut
any time during tho period from COM
,,lete "neading out" to late bloom. One
authority. who has had long experience
in growing and feeding millet, is quoted
as saving that the best time to cut mil
let for hay is when a majority OF the
heads have distinctly appeared. Cutting
for soilins or for the silo can, however
be done a little later than for hay, but
should take place before the seed mas
baqiln to ripen.