straw
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straw
1. mature, dry foliage of a cereal crop after the grain has been harvested by a header or by threshing. Has very low digestibility, energy and protein content. Used principally as bedding but in some economies is used as feed. Causes impaction of the rumen in cattle and ileocecal valve in horses. Is more digestible if chopped and fed with a protein supplement or urea. If left standing in the field is referred to as stubble. When fed in this way there is a variable amount of spilt grain available also.
2. a hollow, plastic tube used for the storage of frozen semen. See also french straws.
straw eating
a vice in stabled horses which may require muzzling to avoid the occurrence of impaction colic.