Feeding Value Of Straw

In ordinary farm practice in Utah the straw is considerad of very little value. In many instances, instead of an economical use being made of it, whole stacks are burned, and instead of the plant food contained in the straw being returned to and thus enriching the soil it is wasted. Feeding trials at the state station, however, have proved concluoively that straw can be used advantageously for feeding in connection with our most common forage erop, lucero. The old assumption that the crude fiber of straw is indigestible and that its digestibility as a whole is fax less than that of other coarse fodders has been shown to be erroneous. Experiments made on the digestibility of straw show that two-fifths of the total natrients, including the crude fiber, are digestible, at least by ruminants, thus making it very little below other coarse fodders as regards digestibility. Straw is rich in crude fiber and poor in protein; henee it is not suited alone to form a ration, but very desirable when fed with a fodder rich in protein, as lucern. lts value varies considerably, according to the kind, the manner of sowing, the soil and the time of sowing. Armsby.says that oat straw stands first, barley nezt and wheat last in feeding value.