The Carotene Content of Several Herbages during the Growing Season

Abstract

During the past few years an increasing tonnage of various forage crops is being preserved by the ensiling process. Very few studies, however, have been made to determine at what stage of growth these crops contain the greatest amount of carotene. If this information were available it might be possible to ensile certain crops when the carotene content is high. A high carotene roughage is especially desirable in feeding dairy cattle in order to produce a milk of high vitamin A content.