Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-06
THE FEEDING QUESTION.
A Discussion OF the Value of Corn Fodde
and Ensilage.

and Ensilage.
Very much space in the discussion of
agricultural matters at the present day
is devoted to the question of the value
of corn fodder and ensilage.
1t is but a few years since attention
was turned to ensilage, and its advo-
Gates have been very enthusiastic in
its support; the experiment stations,
and private experimenters have been
making a study OF the subject with a
view to obtaining all the light posi-
BILE upon the subiec. that will be of
benefit to the common farmer. Ensil-
age was warmly recommended at the
first, and has retained many advocates
to the present time, but with all that
has been said or written upon the sub
ject, no one has presumed to claim that
because of being placed in the silo the
material ensilage possessed any more
nutritive properties than the same ma
terial possessed when dried.
Taking this view of the case, conserv-
ative farmers have been slow to adopt
the ensilage system of preserving fod-
der.
1t is undoubtedly true that ensilage
preserves the fodder, in condition bet
ter suited to digestion and in a condi-
ton where less waste is liable to occur
than with dry fodder especially if it is
coarse. There is tendency among
cattle after being fed on coarse corn
stalks for a time, to leave a consider
able portion of the stalk unless the
same are cut up. With cut ensilage
the condition is eliminated, and the
same may occur with the dry fodder if
it is also cut, and especially so if it is
treated as most ensilage was formerly
treated, that is. supplemented by meal
or fine food.
There need be no trouble in secur-
ing the complete consumption of almost
any kind of dry feed if it is cut, moist
ened, and receives a sprinkling OF
meal or other grain feed.
A little investigation disclosed the
fact that in the early history of ensil-
age this mode of feeding was practiced;
in addition to the ensilage fair feed
of meal or bran was added to the en-
silage. Regarding corn fodder, which
is meant to include the fodder from
corn grown exclusively for the grain,
there is no doubt but that it's value de-
ponds very much upon its treatment.
rlry
farmer topped his corn, believing it to
be advantageous to the corn and an
important saving of fodder. By this
system if the tops were properly cured
there was provided supply of fodder
that appeared especially adapted to
the wants of milch cows, but the re-
mainder being left until the harvest of
the corn was less valuable than the
butts when cut up and stacked, as is
now practiced. which, however, de-
pended considerably upon the manner
in which the work was done and the
subsequent condition of the weather.
Fodder corn is still another condition
of growth, although furnishing the
material for silos to great extent.
1t is the change that has undergone,
the cultivation of this crop that really
gets at the real inwardness of ensilage
as a valuable fodder. At first it was
believed to be advisable to plant or SOW
the corn so thickly that the stalks
would be small, and so more readily |
but by this means the ensil-
age was not giving satisfactory results. |
1t was found that the product was wa
terry to great extent, and lacking in |
nutritive qualities; new method, that |
Of planting so thin as to allow the corn |
to approach maturity was adopted, and |
when the corn grain was well devel- |
oped it was cut, grain and all, and put |
into the silo. This brought the fodder |
into . condition in which grain entered |
largely as an element; such a fodder |
would, of course, be valuable food, |
and there would be no question regard
ing the value of corn fodder or fodder
corn, if all the grain was to remain. as
an element of food. This is pointthat
farmers should consider when they
read, regarding the effects of feeding
modern corn ensilage. Cure your fod-
der corn and feed with the grain it
contains. and the results will be sur
prising. VIM n. Yeomans, in N. Y.
Observer.