The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-11-26
FEEDING VALUES or
DIFFERENT HAYS.
PalatabiIity is one Of the important
Factors.

Clover and many OF the other le-
gums have won for themselves high
places in the farm practice and rota
ton in most sections of the country.
but referring gain TO the advance
pages OF Farmers Bulletin 362 OF the
Department Of Agriculture. il is Of
interest and advantage TO know the
real proportionate feeding value OF the
legumes as compared with other hays
For many farmers who in the past
have grown nothing but timothy for
the market are now commencing to
grow clover in order 10 help build up
their land. AS a result there Is more
straight clover and clovermixed hay
sent 10 market than heretofore and
dealers have difficulty in getting
enough timothy hay TO supply their
trade.
BY comparing the feeding value OF
different hays. however. given below,
10 will be seen that this present ten
dency 70 grow more legume hay is in
reality a fortunate one for the feed
er. IL he will but recognize the value
of such hay, as well as a wise prac-
tice and a great advantage 10 the
grower in improving his soil. But
from the standpoint solely Of the
feeder. whether he be the city feeder
or the farmer himself-in all feeds
protein is Of the most importance as
il builds up the body. carbohydrates
the fuel. coming next
On the average. in 100 pounds OF
alfalfa hay the digestible protein
amounts TO 10.5S pounds; in cowpea
hay. 1919 pounds: in alsike clover
: H. T. ..fr n
7-3S pounds, in redtop hay. 4.s0
pounds. and in timothy hay. only 2.S9
pounds.
In 100 pounds OF redtop hay the d.
gestihle carbohydrates amount TO AZ
pounds: in timothy nay 1872 pounds.
in alsike clover hay. 41-70 pounds; in
alfalfa hay. 1888 pounds: in cowpea
hay IS. 40 pounds. in red clover hay,
26.l5 pounds. When fed for protein,
timothy hay ranks last. but when fed
for carbohydrates IL stands next to
redtop which heads the list. II the
total nutrients are considered there
are a number OF different kinds OF
hay which are equal. IL not superior
TO timothy hay for feeding purposes
IL cut at the right time and properly
cured Johnson grass and Bermuda
grass hay are about equal TO timothy
in amount of nutrient.
Palatability is a factor which Is
very important in determining the
feeding value OF hay. A hay may h
high in nutrients. but if II lacks pala
liability. il is not as valuable a feed a.
a hay that Is poorer in nutrients but
is very palatable. Timothy IS a very
palatable hay and this is one OF IN,
chief reasons why il Is standard IL
most markets. But palatability may
depend largely on the time the hay
Is cut and on the method OF curing
Redtop may be cited as an example
IL is quite generally true that in mos
markets feeders discriminate severely
against redtOp whenever IL is fount
mixed in with any other kind OF hay
They claim that redtop has no feedin:
value and that horses will not eat II
The point that the feeder and the farm
er too. overlook is that when redtol
is cut too late II has a bitter taste. II
not palatable. and horses do not relisl
Il. but IL cut early It has a sweet taste
is very palatable. and is more nutriti
Gus than timothy hay When buyinl
timothy that contains redtop. FEEDER
should examine II carefully in orde
TO see IL the redtop was cut early an,
properly cured. II IL is properly Gu
and cured It does not lower the qualit,
OF feeding value Of the timothy II 4
very seldom that redtop is cut at tn
proper time. and II is safe TO say tina
perhaps not over onehalf Of the GRO
is cut early enough.