The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-02
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CUTTING CORN FODDER.
When 1t Pays to Cut Eine-Different Styles
of Cutters and Splitters.


of Cutters and Splitters.
Here are some practical points from
correspondent who has practiced cutting
corn fodder for number Of years and
finds that it pays for horses and sheep.
He writes to Ohio Farmer that he finds
four kinds of cutters on the market.
One has knives attached to a revolving
cylinder; another has knives in large
wheel running at right angles with
throat of machine; the third, the hand
cutter; the fourth has series of knives
attached to shaft in such way as to
cut and split, making fine cut of butts
as we'll as tops. The product of the diff
ferent kinds of machines only differs in
length of cut and the last being a split
ter. He writes:
In cutting corn fodder tho quantity one
has to be consumed per head must govern
the degree of fineness into which the fod
der is cut. If one has large amount of
fodder to feed, and the amount of stock is
small, it will be poor policy to run tho
coarse, woody butts through the digest
i've organs of any animal. Hence the
fodder must be cut in such a manner as
to enable the animal to eat that which
is desirable and reject the other por-
tions.
The coarser fodder is cut the nearer
this desirable point will be reached. If
one has only limited amount of fodder
with a large amount of stock, where
much grain is fed to fattenng animals,
the finer fodder is cut the more value
will be obtained from it. Experience
has taught the observing feeder that a
certain amount of coarse bulky food of
some kind must be fed in connection
with grain rations to secure the highest
degree OF digestion as we'll as preserving
the health of the animal.
The next thing to be considered in
buying cutter is the available power
one has for reducing ones fodder to the
desirable consistency Note this one
point, that the shorter the cut the high
er the speed must be to accomplish
certain amount of work in given time;
hence the greater must be the power.
Cutting and splitting machines that run
at rate of 1000 revolutions per min
ute cannot be successfully run by hand
or horse power Another objection comes
with the fine cutting-that is, the dan
ger of heating. Only small quantities
an be cut at time, as heating is sure to
spoil large quantities in case OF warm
weather and damp fodder.
Cutters that have knives attached to
revolving shaft or cylinder are also
Objectionable, as the rapid revolving of
the shaft or cylinder does not give suffi-
icient time for length of cut. have in
use Swiss cutter with two knives IS
inches long in wheel a inches in di-
ameter, running at right angles with
the throat knives, adjustable by means
of set screws to throat plate, thus al
ways insuring perfect shear cut. With
this machine a length of about az
inches can be cut This length partly
overcomes the objection Of length equal
to or shorter than diameter of stalks,
which causes sore mouth by standing
on end in the animals mouth, making
short length highly Objectionable.
Even with this length. az inches,
have never found it profitable to cut
fodder for cattle, as they do not relish
it as we'll as in it's natural state, espe-
cially SO in warm weather. I would
only recommend cutting for horses and
sheep, and this in lengths of three inch
es if a machine could be obtained to cut
that length. The existing feature in all
machines Of two cutting knives for each
revolution makes it impossible for the
feed to advance to that length The
hand cutter would be the only machine
that would give these desired results I
have seen those with high speed cutters
and splitters have the cutting fever, and
have seen the chills follow.