פירוש על שבת 24:2

פקיעי עמיר – straw of ears of corn that were tied together, we loosen them, for all the while that they are tied together they are not food/eatables, and we loosen them to make them into food, but we spread them to scatter them in the manner that we scatter grasses before the animal in order that it would smell it their scent and it would be nice for her to consume them, but it is prohibited with bundles of sheaves, for after they have made it into food, they untying bundles/bunch and the that which is spread, it is not other than for mere enjoyment, but he is troubling himself with something that is already food, we don’t trouble ourselves with it.

Introduction This mishnah teaches how one feeds one’s animals on Shabbat.

ומפספסים את הכיפים – moist cedar branches we spread out and stretch them in front of the animal in order that it would smell their scent for without spreading them out, they are not food.

One may untie bundles of hay in front of cattle and one may spread out large sheaves, but not small hardened twigs. There are several different explanations for this section, but I will explain according to Albeck’s explanation, which differs from that given in other commentaries. The general principle which we learn in this mishnah is that a person is allowed to do something which turns food which cannot be eaten by the animal into food which can be eaten. Bundles of hay must be untied before they can be eaten, and large sheaves must be spread out before they may be eaten by the animal. However, the small hardened twigs cannot be eaten by the animal even after they are spread out. Hence, one may not untie or spread out a bundle of this type of twigs.

אבל לא את הזירין – they are bundles of sheaves but these bundles have two ties, one at their head and another at their end, but the small bunches/capsules have three bands (see Talmud Shabbat 155a) - one additional connection in their middle and our Mishnah mentions it for we do not spread these bundles of sheaves, even though they are pressed against each other and become heated, for the animals set them aside but rather, he loosens three bunches only, for the loosening of the bands is a burden for her and the food is like bunches [when tied with two bands].

One may not chop up unripe grain or carobs before cattle, whether small or large. Rabbi Judah permits it in the case of carobs for small beasts. Chopping up unripe grain and carobs is a lot of work and animals will eat unripe grain and carobs. Since this work is not necessary and it is not easily performed it is forbidden on Shabbat. Rabbi Judah holds that it is permitted to chop up carobs for small animals (sheep and goats) since they cannot eat the carobs until they are chopped up. It is only forbidden for large animals which can eat unripe grain and carobs without them being chopped up.

אין מרסקין את השחת – we don’t cut grass of grain and this is fodder for cattle because it is a trouble that is not necessary.

רבי יהודה מתיר בחרובין לבהמה דקה – since its teeth are thin and hard for her, but the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yehuda.