American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-18
WITH THE EXTENSION PEOPLE
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Make the Forage Crops Go Further.
BY f. j. Fjeldsted,
Field Animal Husbandman

Field Animal HuSbandman
This years hay crop is already
bringing unprecedented prices. The
shortage of hay in the United States
is causing alarm and no little appre-
hension among cattle and sheep men.
Farmers of southern Idaho have a
better supply of hay than those of
neighboring states, but the high prices
that are likely to prevail till another
crop is cut demand that the most
rigid economy in feeding be practiced
during this coming winter season.
In glancing about for a hay substi-
tute the various straws are the first
materials that usually come to mind.
Straw was used extensively last winter
but with little or no regard for
omy. Animals were allowed to run to
the stacks and the greater part of the
straw was tramped into the ground.
At present there is a movement in the
state to follow some system OF feed
ing straw this coming winter.
How to Feed Straw.
There are a few principles involved
i'm feeding straw that must be observ-
ed If the best results are to he OBJ
tanned. Instead Of turning the animals
loose to the stack, the straw should
be fed In feed racks. Putting the
straw thru "a feed chopper adds ma
terially to its value as a food. All
straw, being low in moisture content,
addition of alfalfa hay or roots to the
ration will correct this tendency.
| Straw should never be fed as the sole
ration. A small amount of grain sill
age. roots. pulp or molasses in the
combination will aid very materially,
especially when fed to immature ami
mails. Only bright straw. free from
mold. and excessive dust, should ever
be fed. This is especially true where
breeding animals are concerned. A
little attention in stacking at thresh-
ing time will prevent much loss from
weathering.
Relative Value Of the StraWs.
OF the grain straws, oats comes
first. barley second. wheat third. rye
| fourth. II is doubtful If the latter
should be used for anything but bed
ding. Alsike clover is the best Of the
clover straws. followed by red clover,
with white clover straw last. OF the
other legume straws, pea straw takes
first rank, followed hy alfalfa, and
then bean straw.
Rati0ns.
Straw and hay may be fed together
OF separately i'm equal proportions,
particularly for dry stock. BY adding
5 per cent of sugar beet molasses to
chopped straw a good feed for carry
ing over stock is secured. Chopped
straw fed in combination with chop
ped roots. or silage. also makes a
good feed for this purpose.
Glover and other legume stra~s may
be used with profit in feeding sheep,
particularly If fed with silage or
roots. and in this way a large amount
OF hay may be saved. Great care
must be used. however. in feeding
alsike straw to horses. since there
are cases Of fatal results because OF
alsike poisoning. Some alfalfa hay
should be fed in combination with
clover straws TO really get the best
results.
Properly cured pea straw ranks
highest Of all straws, approaching
good alafalfa hay in value. However,
II does tend to produce constipation
especially in horses. and for this rea-
son should not be fed to horses as a
sole roughage. BY adding a small