UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ~*. • m**m- «r- *^ n .~... T-.. nr - BENJ. IDE WHEELER, PRESIDENT COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE THOMAS FORSYTH HUNT, DEAN AND DIRECTOR BERKELEY h. e. van norman, vice-director and dean University Farm School CIRCULAR No. 167 August, 1917 FEEDING STUFFS OF MINOR IMPORTANCE By F. W. WOLL The prevailing high prices for hay and other common feeding stuffs are leading farmers to look for materials that may serve as partial substitutes. The object of this circular is to describe briefly a number of such materials that are not generally used for stock feeding by our farmers at the present time, but which can be so used to a considerable extent, without affecting appreciably the production of the stock, and with a resulting reduction in feed cost. The problem of cheapening the cost of production of animal products by the use, in part, of low-grade feed materials is so much the more important since normal conditions with regard to feed prices are not likely to return for at least several years and as prices for the products of the farm have not increased in proportion to the increase in feed prices, and this condition may not be changed in the near future. The farmer and stockman must, therefore, feed more cheaply than in the past, or keep stock that will give better returns for the feed consumed than that now commonly kept, or both. This circular deals with the former method of increasing the profits from stock raising, but it should be distinctly understood that improvement along both lines suggested is possible, and should be made in order that animal husbandry may pay as well or better in the future than it has in the past. Most of the materials discussed in the following pages are only of medium or low feeding value compared with standard cattle feeds, and cannot make up the entire ration for growing or producing farm animals. Stock that is idle or maintained at an even weight, on the other hand, can be kept in a good body condition on rations composed wholly of some of these materials, at a minimum feed cost, and ex- pensive standard feeds thus saved for the producing herd or flock. The materials referred to as partial substitutes for common feed- ing stuffs are straw from small grains, rice, or leguminous crops, stalks of Indian corn or grain sorghums, grain and rice stubble, sugar- beet tops and leaves, cannery refuse, by-products from the orchard or truck gardening, etc. The average chemical composition of these materials for which analyses are available, with estimated digestible components, will be seen from the following table. For the sake of comparison, this also includes corresponding figures for alfalfa hay and barley. Composition of Feeding Stuffs of Minor Importance, in (Various Authorities) Moisture Protein Fat Fiber Barley straw 14.2 3.5 1.5 36.0 Oat straw 9.2 4.0 2.3 37.0 Wheat straw 9.6 3.4 1.3 38.1 Eice straw 7.5 3.9 1.4 33.5 Lima bean straw.... 10.0 10.7 1.9 21.1 Horse bean 'straw .... 9.2 8.8 1.4 37.6 Soy bean straw 10.1 4.6 1.7 40.4 Foxtail hay 7.5 7.0 2.0 27.4 Indian corn stalks.... 19.0 5.7 1.2 27.7 Kafir stalks 19.2 4.8 1.6 26.8 Milo fodder 11.1 12.0 4.5 18.4 Sugar beet leaves and tops 83.8 2.3 .4 1.6 Cull potatoes 79.1 2.1 .1 .4 Potato tops 78.0 2.3 1.0 6.0 Artichoke tops, air- dried 25.8 4.2 .9 22.0 Cull apples 80.8 .7 .4 1.2 Apple pomace 83.0 1.0 .9 2.9 Cull raisins 19.0 4.5 67.7* Grape pomacej 67.0 4.3 2.1 7.8 Olive pulpf 11.1 4.6 13.1 39.2 Almond hullsf 17.3 2.0 .8 17.0 Carob pods 11.9 8.0 1.0 5.6 Acorns 55.3 2.5 1.9 4.4 Spineless cactus 92.8 .5 .1 .9 Alfalfa hay 17.1 14.0 1.9 25.0 Barley 10.8 12.0 1.8 4.2 * Chiefly sugar, f Digestibility not known. PORTAN CE, IN Per Cent N-free extract Ash Di Pro- tein gestible Carbo- hydrates and fat 39.0 5.7 .9 41.5 42.4 5.1 1.3 41.3 43.4 4.2 .8 36.1 39.2 14.5 .9 38.5 46.7 9.6 5.4 41.5 34.3 8.7 4.3 41.3 37.4 5.8 2.3 42.4 47.3 8.8 4.0 50.9 40.9 5.5 2.1 44.0 39.6 8.0 1.6 44.5 44.1 9.9 1.9 42.6 7.4 4.8 1.7 7.7 17.4 .9 1.1 15.9 9.7 3.0 1.0 9.4 40.1 7.0 2.7 51.5 16.6 .4 .8 17.0 11.6 .6 .5 10.7 2.2 3.4 65:2 16.3 2.5 30.4 1.6 .... 57.3 5.6 71.8 1.7 2.4 66.5 34.8 1.0 2.1 38.2 4.5 1.2 .3 3.9 34.7 7.3 10.4 38.2 68.7 2.5 9.4 75.9 Cereal Straw. — Straw of small grains, especially that of oats, bar- ley, and wheat, may take the place of hay to a limited extent in feeding farm animals. About one-third of the roughage is generally fed to cattle in European countries, and one-half or more to horses. This is either fed whole or chopped, the former as a rule to cattle and the latter to horses, being fed wet and mixed with grain or sliced roots. It does not appear that the nutritive effect of the ration is reduced by substituting straw for common hay to this extent. Fine bright oat straAV has an approximately similar feeding value to a medium quality of wild hay. Barley and spring wheat straw rank next in feeding value. Other kinds of straw or poorer grades of the cereal straws mentioned may be used for bedding after cattle or sheep have picked it over. By chopping and feeding the straw wet, mixed with grain, roots, or molasses, even coarse old straw may be utilized for stock feeding and aid in reducing the amount of valuable hay required to keep animals in good condition. In these days of high feed prices, it is more than ever inexcusable to burn straw to get rid of it. By feeding it to stock, as suggested, at least one-half a similar amount of hay may be saved, and the full manurial value of the straw saved at the same time. Rice Straw. — With the growth of the rice industry in the state during recent years, the proper utilization of the rice by-products has become more important than formerly. Rice straw has a fair feeding value, only slightly below that of oat and barley straw, and may be fed to horses and cattle with good results, as a part of their roughage. If fed as sole roughage, as is sometimes done, the allow- ance of grain must be somewhat increased over the amount fed with hay. Rice straw alone does not furnish sufficient nutriment for pro- ductive purposes although it makes a good maintenance feed. Accord- ing to reports received, it can also be successfully made into silage if plenty of water is added as the cut mass goes into the silo. Legume Straw. — Straw from leguminous crops, beans, peas, etc., is somewhat higher in nutrients than cereal straw, but is generally coarse-stemmed and less palatable to stock than the latter. Lima bean straw is commonly fed to cows, horses, and sheep in the south coastal counties of the state and is considered of nearly similar feeding- value as good grain hay or fair grades of alfalfa or clover hay. In order to avoid waste in feeding, it is preferably run through a cutter and either fed alone or mixed with feeds, like silage, sliced roots, or concentrates. Alfalfa straw obtained as a by-product in alfalfa seed production can be used for feeding horses and, if chopped, for cattle and sheep. It is low in protein and high in fiber (below 10 per cent and above 30 per cent, respectively), and has about one-half the feeding value of ordinary alfalfa hay. Grain stubble furnishes feed for large numbers of hogs, sheep and other stock in this state during the late summer and early fall. The value of ordinary stubble pasture is generally recognized by farmers. Rice stubble fields also supply valuable pasture for farm animals, including horses and turkeys, and have been extensively utilized for stock feeding in rice-growing sections during late years. Foxtail, at an early stage of growth, while the beards are still soft and silky, compares favorably with grain hay in composition and feeding value, but it seems impossible to avoid difficulties in pastur- ing this crop or feeding such hay, from even early cuttings, to stock on account of the stiff beards. When old weedy alfalfa fields cannot be cut early for hay, the only method of utilizing the crop is to make it into alfalfa silage • even then the crop must be cut before the foxtail beards have become stiff, in order to make satisfactory silage. Indian corn stalks form an important source of feed for farm animals in eastern and central states. Cattle and horses are either allowed to harvest the stalks (stover) in the field or the stalks are fed whole in the barn or corral. In some cases, they are run through a cutter or shredder before being fed to stock. This is by far the better way of handling the stalks, as the nutrients contained in them may thus be fully utilized. Chemical analyses and digestion trials have shown that about one-third of the total digestible nutrients in the corn crop is found in the stalks. It is, therefore, a matter of great economical importance to our country that the enormous feed supply present in corn stalks be not allowed to go to waste. They furnish a good feed for farm animals, especially young stock, winter- ing cattle or ewes, and horses doing light work. If fed whole, con- siderable waste will occur, even if the stalks are fed in the corral or the manger, and they are, therefore, preferably fed chopped or shredded, in which case stock will eat them practically without waste. Stalks of grain sorghums, milo, Egyptian corn, feterita, etc., con- tain similar amounts of nutrients as Indian corn stalks, and should be utilized for stock feeding in the same way. Where the crop is not grown especially for grain, either for seed or hog feeding, the more economical method of preserving the sorghum crop, as well as the Indian corn crop, for feeding farm animals is to make it into silage. The greatest feeding value is secured by this method of preservation and the cost of feeding the crop thereby reduced.* The silo furnishes the most economical method of utilizing standard forage crops, like Indian corn, sorghum varieties, Sudan grass, cereal grains, etc., for feeding cattle and sheep. It also renders it possible to change materials of minor or very little value for stock feeding, like many of those described in this circular, into palatable feeds of considerable feeding value. Cannery refuse furnishes large amounts of feed available at or near canneries, mainly pea and corn canneries. It is ordinarily siloed and used for feeding sheep, milch cows, or beef cattle. Pea cannery refuse (pea vines) is also sometimes cured into hay and fed to stock as such, with good results. Sugar beet tops and leaves are available in large quantities during the late summer and fall in beet-growing sections, and are generally fed in the field to cattle and sheep. On account of the large content of oxalic acid in the leaves, they are preferably fed in limited amounts only, along with some dry roughage. The best way to utilize this by-product for stock feeding is to silo the tops and leaves after run- ning them through a cutter. They may be siloed alone or mixed with dry materials, like corn stalks, milo stalks, etc. They can also be siloed by being buried in a trench in the field and covered with straw and dirt, but the losses of nutrients are heavy in this case, amounting from one-third to one-half. Silage made from beet tops and leaves only has a rather offensive odor, but makes a palatable stock feed. It is a standard feed for dairy and beef cattle in Euro- pean beet-growing countries. Cull potatoes are of special value as a feed for fattening hogs; they can also be fed to advantage to other classes of stock, to horses, sheep, and milch cows, as a partial substitute for grain. Six pounds of potatoes have a similar feeding value as one pound of grain; if steamed and fed to hogs, they have been found equal to about one-fourth their weight of grain. The latter method of prep- aration is to be recommended in feeding potatoes to hogs. Potato tops can be utilized as roughage for stock after the leaves have turned yellow. The}' should not be fed to stock while still green as they may contain poisonous substances at that time, the same as sprouted potatoes. If cut a few days before the potato harvest and * See Circular 138 and Bulletin 282, California Agricultural College. cured into hay, they are said to furnish a feed fully equal in feeding value, although not in palatability, to meadow hay (or similar to grain hay or stock hay). Potato vines may also be made into silage by being placed in a silo or a trench in the field, as in the case of beet tops. Such silage makes a more palatable feed for stock than the dried tops. Orchard Products. — Apples, grapes, oranges, and other orchard fruits are frequently fed to stock, especially swine, in fruit-growing sections. Broadly speaking, their feeding value varies from one- fourth to one-sixth of that of common grain feeds. The by-products obtained in the manufacture of apple cider, wine, olive oil, etc., have a distinct feeding value, as indicated by the analyses given in the table, and should be utilized for stock feeding, if possible, being especially adapted for feeding market hogs. Raisins that are not marketable will make an excellent feed for fattening hogs if they do not make up over one-half of the grain ration ; fed more heavily, they are likely to cause scouring and will produce unsatisfactory gains. According to experiments conducted at the University Farm, raisins fed as stated possess a similar feeding value as barley, pound for pound. The same holds true in the case of carob pods, the fruit of the carob tree. This grows readily in the southern part of the state, giving annually when fully established a crop of pods which are greatly relished by stock on account of their high sugar content. Rolled pods are especially valuable as a component of grain mixtures for calves. Almond hulls are only of value for feeding hogs and sheep on account of the nuts present therein. If the huller has done poor work, hogs will gain weight on rooting over a pile of almond hulls. Otherwise, this will not furnish sufficient nutriment to main- tain the animals at an even body weight. Acorns are used in parts of the state as a feed for fattening hogs. According to the testimony of packers and butchers, the quality of acorn-fed pork is, however, very inferior, and their use cannot be recommended except when fed with at least an equal amount of grain. The quality of the pork produced is soft and undesirable from both the packer's and consumer's standpoint, even if grain (barley) is fed for several weeks prior to slaughter. Spineless cactus is included in the preceding list of feeds, mainly because of the interest which has been created regarding it through occasional favorable newspaper reports. A single trial with cows in the University dairy herd showed it to have no more merit than sug- gested by its chemical composition. It proved unpalatable to our cows, but undoubtedly in some cases it has been eaten by cows and hogs with a relish and in considerable amounts. As orfc hundred pound contain less than eight pounds of dry matter and but slightly over four pounds digestible nutrients, it may be looked upon mainly as an appetizer to stock that have become accustomed to it, and can- not, as a general rule, be considered a substitute for either roots or silage, as is sometimes claimed. STATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION 1897. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1914. 1915. 1916. REPORTS Resistant Vines, their Selection, Adaptation, and Grafting. Appendix to Viticultural Report for 1896. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1898-1901. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1901-03. Twentf-second Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1903-04. Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station, July, 1913-June, 1914. Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station, July, 1914-June, 1915. Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station, July, 1915-June, 1916. BULLETINS No. 230. 241. 242. 244. 246. 248. 249. 250. 251. 252. 253. 255. 257. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. No. 82. 107. 108. 109. 113. 114. 115. 117. 118. 121. 124. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. No. Enological Investigations. 267. Vine Pruning in California, Part I. 268. Humus in California Soils. 270. Utilization of Waste Oranges. Vine Pruning in California, Part II. The Economic Value of Pacific Coast 271. Kelps. 272. Stock-Poisoning Plants of California. 273. The Loquat. Utilization of the Nitrogen and Organic 274. Matter in Septic and Imhoff Tank Sludges. 275. Deterioration of Lumber. Irrigation and Soil Conditions in the 276. Sierra Nevada Foothills, California. 277. The Citricola Scale. 278. New Dosage Tables. 279. Melaxuma of the Walnut, "Juglans 280. regia." Citrus Diseases of Florida and Cuba 281. Compared with Those of California. Size Grade for Ripe Olives. 282. The Calibration of the Leakage Meter. Cottony Rot of Lemons in California. 283. A Spotting of Citrus Fruits Due to the 284. Action of Oil Liberated from the Rind. 285. CIRCULARS No. The Common Ground Squirrels of 142. California. Spraying Walnut Trees for Blight and 143. Aphis Control. Grape Juice. 144. Community or Local Extension Work 145. by the High School Agricultural De- partment. 146. Correspondence Courses in Agriculture. Increasing the Duty of Water. 147. Grafting Vinifera Vinevards. 148. The Selection and Cost of a Small 150. Pumping Plant. 151. The County Farm Bureau. 152. Some Things the Prospective Settler Should Know. 153. Alfalfa Silage for Fattening Steers. Spraying for the Grape Leaf Hopper. 154. House Fumigation. Insecticide Formulas. 155. The Control of Citrus Insects. 156. Cabbage Growing in California. 157. Spraying for Control of Walnut Aphis. 158. When to Vaccinate against Hog Cholera. 15"9. County Farm Adviser. 160. Control of Raisin Insects. 161. Official Tests of Dairy Cows. 162. Melilotus Indica. Wood Decay in Orchard Trees. 163. The Silo in California Agriculture. The Generation of Hydrocyanic Acid 164. Gas in Fumigation by Portable Ma- 165. chines. The Practical Application of Improved 166. Methods of Fermentation in Califor- 167. nia Wineries during 1913 and 1914. 168. Standard Insecticides and Fungicides versus Secret Preparations. Experiments with Stocks for Citrus. Growing and Grafting Olive Seedlings. A Comparison of Annual Cropping, Bi- ennial Cropping, and Green Manures on the Yield of Wheat. Feeding Dairy Calves in California. Commercial Fertilizers. Preliminary Report on Kearney Vine- yard Experimental Drain. The Common Honey Bee as an Agent in Prune Pollination. The Cultivation of Be-lladonna in Cali- fornia. The Pomegranate. Sudan Grass. Grain Sorghums. Irrigation of Rice in California. Irrigation of Alfalfa in the Sacramento Valley. Control of the Pocket Gophers in Cali- fornia. Trials with California Silage Crops for Dairy Cows. The Olive Insects of California. Irrigation of Alfalfa in Imperial Valley. The Milch Goat in California. Practical and Inexpensive Poultry Ap- pliances. Control of Grasshoppers in Imperial Valley. Oidium or Powdery Mildew of the Vine. Suggestions to Poultrymen concerning Chicken Pox. Jellies and Marmalades from Citrus Fruits. Tomato Growing in California. "Lungworms." Round Worms in Poultry. Feeding and Management of Hogs. Some Observations on the Bulk Hand- ling of Grain in California. Announcement of the California State Dairy Cow Competition, 1916-18. Irrigation Practice in Growing Small Fruits in California. Bovine Tuberculosis. How to Operate an Incubator. Control of the Pear Scab. Home and Farm Canning. Agriculture in the Imperial Valley. Lettuce Growing in California. Potatoes in California. White Diarrhoea and Coccidiosis of Chicks. Fundamentals Affecting the Food Sup- ply of the United States. Small Fruit Culture in California. Fundamentals of Sugar Beet under California Conditions. The County Farm Bureau. Feeding Stuffs of Minor Importance. Spraying for the Control of Wild Morn rag-Glory within the Fog Belt.