Composition and Feeding Values of Green maize, Millet and Bulrush Millet Cut for Soiling Purposes

Abstract

In the long dry seasons of this Territory the 'problem of providing green succulent foods for feeding to high-producing animals, such as heavy milk-producing cows, is very important. Such green foods provide the very necessary carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) required to maintain body reserves at this time of the year when the natural herbage contains practically none. Carotene is converted by farm animals into vitamin A and the maintenance of an adequate reserve of this vitamin is necessary to ensure that high-producing animals remain in sufficiently good health to continue in production at a high rate. Shortage of this vitamin will lead to skin disorders, possible eye troubles, retard the normal growth rate and interfere with reproduction. In addition, the secretion of large volumes of milk, which contains vitamin A and carotene, causes a large drain on the liver reserves of this vitamin. Actually, when the liver reserves become low the quantity of carotene and vitamin A in the milk is curtailed and the nutritive values of the milk and butterfat are correspondingly reduced. Besides the provision of vitamin A, green foods exert a very beneficial effect on the tone of the digestive system, thereby promoting the better utilization of the dried roughages which form the bulk of the ration in the dry season.