THE VALUE OF STRAW.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 731, 22 February 1877, Page 3

THE VALUE OF STRAW.

The common practice of destroying straw lias induced me to draw attention to the value of straw as food for cattle., There are many ways in which benefit would accrue to them— such as mannre collected by .the mess of stall feeding. Then the dairy produce would .be increased by such means, and stock would fatten instead of declining in value by loss of flesh. It will be argued by some. that the expense of mowing and threshing is too large to admit of a profit, but those who are of such an opinion will be convinced upon trial, and I will give them my reasons! for inducing them to such a course of action. Chemical investigation has proved that the straw contains only one-third less nitrogenous principle than the best meadow hay, and it will be found very nearly as rich in . flesh— forming matter as the besfc hay. Fourteen ! pounds will replace l2lbs of hay, and keep the animal in an equally good condition. This subject led the Minister of War in France to institute a commission to institute a commission to test the matter, which was done on a very large scale, viz, on 6000 horses, with the following results. To determine the question the trial was made upon the number of horses mentioned from the 30th July to 2nd September :— 9?QQfil Straw > 18lb ; oats, Bilb. lll&j Total,26ilb. 42401) „ IQI , , Q , lu kqoaq I Hay, 181b ; oats, Bilb. Jjyjg} ToW,26ilb. The horses fed upon straw and oats were very vigoi*ous at their work, and did not sweat much, while of those fed upon the same weight of hay and oats the weight of body increased^, but the soldiers complainea^that they were very much softer than usual, and were covered with sweat ; and those fed on oats and straws performed their work far easier and better. The results are thus summed up. Oats and straw are the aliments which agree best. It will be seen by the above that the experiment is worth trying The mode of preparing is . by stacking the straw carefully, and as each layer of straw is placed on the stack, sprinkle about Blb of salt, If the " stack is intended to be a large one — say 20 to 30 tons — about 5 cwt salt. The straw should be trussed and gived to the cattle, and not to allow them to eat from the stack, as a proper allowance should be given to each. — Mr G A Watts, in the " Wimmera Star."