6. Succulent feeds

6.1. Read the text and say why succulent feeds are more important for dairy cattle:

Succulent feeds are of much importance in the efficient and economical feeding of dairy cattle. Due to their cooling slightly-laxative action, succulent feeds aid greatly in keeping the digestive tracts of high-producing dairy cows in good condition. Furthermore, succulent feeds are usually highly palatable, and thus they whet the appetite so that larger amounts of roughage are consumed than when only hay and other dry forages are fed. As a result, the cows have more nutrients available for milk production, after the maintenance needs of their bodies have been met.

The mild laxative effect of silage is especially desirable when there is no abundance of legume hay in the ration. This laxative effect often makes easier the problem of providing desirable concentrate or grain mixtures, for laxative concentrates such as wheat bran and linseed meal are often relatively high in price. If cows are watered only once a day, succulent feeds also help to supply plenty of water. While succulent feeds are highly desirable for feeding dairy cows during the winter, they are not absolu­tely necessary for good production.

3. Answer the questions:

1. Why are succulent feeds of much importance in the efficient and economical feeding of dairy cattle?

2. What feeds help to supply plenty of water?

3. Are succulents necessary for good production?

4. Do succulent feeds whet appetite?

7. Straw

7.1. Read the text using a dictionary and speak about nutritive value of straw:

Straw is akin to hay as a food, but is much more bulky and fibrous. Straw consisting of the mature stems and leaves has relatively little protein, starch or fat, while the content of fibre or cellulose is high.

The great bulk of straw is an unsuitable food, at least in large proportions, for heavy milking cows, hard working horses, calves, lambs or foals. For dry cattle and slowly fattening animals straw is a useful part of the ration. The actual nutritive value and palatability depends on the type of crop from which it is made.

The straws of barley and wheat, because of the advanced stage of ripeness at which they are cut, are somewhat less valuable than the straw of oats which is usually cut in a less ripe condition.

Straw from oats cut at a fairly green stage contains an appreciable amount of sugar which renders it palatable to stock. About four pounds of straw are in nutritive value is the equivalent of a pound of barley. Straw is usually used for bedding.

7.2. Answer the questions:

1. Is hay as fibrous as straw?

2. Is straw a useful part of the ration for dry cattle and slowly fattening animals?

3. Is nutritive value of straw higher than that of hay?

8. Silage

8.1. Read the text and find the information about silage made from different crops and translate it into Russian in written form:

Silage is important for feeding dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep. Apart from the nutrients it contains, good sila­ge has certain desirable qualities not possessed by most dry roughages. It is highly palatable, and therefore stock will usually eat more roughage on the dry basis when fed both silage and hay or other dry forage than when rece­iving only dry feed. This will often make possible a considerable economy in the amount of concentrates required for good production.

Silage made from corn, the sorghums, and most other crops is also slightly laxative. This effect is especially advantageous when little or no legume hay is available. If cattle or sheep are fed only dry non-legume roughage du­ring the winter they are apt to become constipated and unthrifty.

The organic acids in silage are similar to those normal­ly produced in the digestive tract of ruminants in the di­gestion of fibre and pentosans of the feed through bacterial action. These acids are utilized by the animal for food in the same manner as the sugars are.