The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-10-25

PURDUE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION. OCTOBER
IA, 1895.
The unusually small hay crop Of
the present year has directed the at
|tention of feeders to the most valu
able of the agricultural side pro-
ducts Of our state corn fodder, or
more properly, the corn stover.
The custom has been to leave most
of this valuable feed standing in the
field and let stock take what they
would Of it, after it had been ex-
posed to the frosts and storms. Ex
periments have repeatedly shown
that well cured corn stover is fully
as valuable for feeding purposes as
good timothy hay. This conclusion
is the result Of practical feeding ex-
periments carefully conducted.
The custom Of allowing the fod-
der to stand in the field exposed to
the weather, results in two fold
loss the feed becomes dry and un-
palatable as compared with well
cured fodder, and there is also a
great loss of material. This loss OF
material is both mechanical from
the breaking up Of the leaves, and
chemical from the destruction of the
'constituents Of the fodder. About
one half of the total feed in the fod-
!. der is found in the portion of the
stalk below the ear. Practically
Jail of this and a portion Of the stalk
above the ear are lost if the fodder
is left standing in the field.
The chemical losses due to ex
posure are chiefly losses Of the
group in which sugars and simila
soluble bodies ure found. Thes'
soluble substances are the one'
most readily digested and the palat
ability of the food depends in
large degree on the proper preserva
ton of these materials.
Cane growers know how rapid
canes deteriorate after a heavy fros
or splitting freeze. Similar change
take place in the corn plant, whic
is related to the cane, but in
smaller degree, since the sugars ar
resent in smaller quantity
The changes that take place
weathering result in an absolute los
Of material OF the sugar groul
since they are converted into con
: pounds that pass off into the ali
! The albuminoids of the corn plar
are more digestible than the a
buminoids of hay. But weatherin
has the same effect on the cor
plant as over ripeness in hay tn
: albuminoids are made less digest
Y BILE, and so there is loss Of avail
able albuminoids as well as an al
solute loss from the decompositio
7 that is steadily going on. Th
hardening Of the woody fibre Ell
y closes the other materials, so th'
greater resistance is offered to tn
action of the digestive fluids an
there is less food material availabl
for the support Of the animal.
The experience Of good feeders
as well as feeding experiments care
fully conducted under chemical cor
troll, indicates that the most feedin
!, material may be derived from tn
corn crop by cutting it as early a
y is consistent with the proper curin
of the ears. Danger Of imouldin
NAV be lessened by making tn
shocks smaller than is customar,
Shocks as small as four hills squal
: are sometimes used and permit yer
; tree circulation of the air. The l.
Dor of cutting and handling is cor
s siderably lessened by the use
t smaller shocks.
! So far as the writer knows ii
. cornstalk disease has not appeare
r. among cattle fed on properly cure
!. corn fodder, although the diseas
IS occurs among cattle having tn
. range Of the corn stalk fields.