The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-09-21
MAKE THE FORAGE
CROPS GO FURTHER

his years nay crop Is ALREADY
bringing unprecedented prices. The
shortage Of hay in the United
States Is causing alarm and no little
apprehension 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 de-
mand that the most rigid economy
in feeding be practiced during this
coming winter season.
In glancing about for hay sub
stitute the various straws are the
first materials that usually come to
mind. Straw was used extensively
last winter, but with little or no re-
gard for economy. Animals were
allowed to run to the stacks and the
greater part of the straw was tramp
ed into the ground. At present
there is a movement in the state to
follow some system of feeding straw
this coming winter.
How to Feed Straw
There are few principles involved
in feeding straw that must be OBJ
served if the best results are to be
obtained. Instead of turning the
animals loose to the stack, the straw
should be fed in feed racks. Put
ting the straw thru a feed chopper
adds materially to it's value as a
food All straw, being low in mois-
ture content, tends to induce con-
stipation. The addition of alfalfa
hay or roots to the ration will cor
rect this tendency. Straw should
never be fed as the sole ration. A
small amount of grain silage, roots,
pulp or molasses in the combination
will aid very materially, especially
when fed to immature animals. Only
bright straw, free from mold and
excessive dust, should ever be fed.
This especially true where breeding
animals are concerned. A little at
tention in stacking at threshing time
will prevent must loss from weather
ing.
Relative Value of the Straws
Of the grain straws, oats comes
first, barley second, wheat third, rye
fourth. 1t 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 by
alfalfa, and then bean straw.
RatiOns
Straw and hay may be fed to-
gether or separately in equal pro-
portions, particularly for dry stock.
By adding per cent of sugar beet
molasses to chopped straw good
feed for carrying over stock is Sc
cured. Chopped straw fed in COM
bination with chopped roots, or 81
lage, also makes good feed for this
purpose.
Glover and other legume straws
may be used with profit in feeding
sheep, particularly if fed with silage
or roots, and in this way large
amount of hay may be saved. Great
care must be used, however, in feed
ing alsike straw to horses, since
there are cases of fatal results be-
cause of alsike poisoning. Some al
falfa hay should be fed in combina-
tion with clover straws to really get
the best results.
Properly cured pea straw ranks
highest of all straws, approaching
good alfalfa hay in value. However,
it does tend to produce constipation
especially in horses, and for this
reason should not be fed to horses
as a sole roughage. By adding a
small amount of alfalfa hay, this
evil may be corrected. With other
classes of livestock, pea straw may
be used as the sole roughage; silage
or roots should be added, however,
whenever possible to get the best
results. Alfalfa straw is very SINH
lar to the clover straws and should
be fed similarly. Bean straw is used
very generally and considered good
feed, but it is less palatable than
the other straws. Sheep, however,
will do we'll on bean straw for the
entire ration.
Suggestive Straw Combination Ra-
lions for Sheep and Cattle
for Winter Maintenance
Ration No. 1-Oat straw, two
parts, alfalfa hay one part, corn sill
age 5 parts. Dat straw may be re-
placed by barley or wheat straw.
Ration No. Glover straw one
part, corn silage two parts. Glover
straw includes all the clovers and
the alfalfa.
Ration No. pea straw one part,
corn silage one part.
Ration No. 4-Bean straw one
part, corn silage one part.
Ration No. 5-Winter mainten-
ance for horses: Dat straw two
parts, alfalfa hay. The oat straw
may be replaced by any of the
straws except the rye which should
not be fed.
Do+;o, for orowinp chnan and cat