The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-02-24
Foods That are Wasted.

Because corn fodder can be easily
grown and gives an abundance under
favorable conditions II is not regarded
as valuable as experiments show. A
few years ago some experiments were
made at Amherst College which
brought out surprising facts, and as
the work extended over term of five
years the results are conclusive and
have been accepted. The high nutri-
tive value of fodder corn, corn stover
and good corn ensilage, as compared
with that of English hay, counting in
all instances, pound for pound of dry
vegetable matter, was fully demon
strated. The general condition Of the
animal on trial, as well as the quality
and quantity of the milk obtained, al
so showed that the corn fodder, etc,
possessed high nutritive value. To
prodnce one quart of milk, using the
same quantity and quality of grain
feed, required in every instance a lar
ger quantity of perfectly dried hay
than of either fodder corn, corn stover
or corn ensilage in a corresponding
state of dryness, the corn stover lead
ing, and the net cost of feed in the case
of the same ration of grain feed was
from one-third to one-half less per
quart of milk when the folders were
used in the place of the hay in the diet
of milch cows. The hay used was
English upland.
The fact that in actual tests made the
fodder corn, corn stover and ensilage
proved fully equal or superior to good
English hay for producing milk is not
the only point in favor of the fodder
crops. The hay was worth SIS per ton
at the time the experiments were
made, while fodder sold at only $ per
ton. Here is where the saving of food
can be considered. Ii is cheaper to
grow large crop of fodder than Of
hay, as the grain is also valuable por-
ton, and as hay is more valuable on
the market than fodder the farmer
should utilize the cheaper foods and
sell the dearer, especially when expert
ments show that the cheaper foods will
give him equally as good results. 1t
must not be overlooked, however, that
in the use of the coarse foods both
hay and fodders) grain and other con-
centrated feeding stuffs were allowed,
but that fact does not destroy the re-
suits sought to be obtained, as in every
method of comparison not only the
yield but the cost of production was
largely in favor of the fodder. In feed
ing the rough foods the preparation
must be considered, as no waste was
permitted in any case where it could
be avoided.
When the farmer leaves his shocks
of corn fodder i'm the field to become
frozen, beaten by winds, soaked by
rains and covered with snow he does
what he would not do with a crop Of
hay. Ii may be time-honOred Gus
tom that is well observed to thus per-
NIT the waste of valuable product Of
the farm, but the effects are noticeable
in the profits. If the hay is worth stOr-
ing where it can be kept in the best
possible condition, so is the fodder,
and if the farmer finds that his cattle
will not readily accept fodder taken
from the fields he must make some al
lowance for its condition. Fodder that
is cut down before the leaves turn, and
which has been well preserved, is Of
much better quality than that which
is cut in an advanced stage and expos
ed in the fields during the winter. 1t
has been claimed that enough fodder is
wasted in the United States every year
by being left standing in the fields to
give large profit on farming and that
one of the chief causes of depression
among farmers is the waste Of so much
valuable feeding material. Now that
the fodder shredder and improved en-
silage and feed cutters can lessen the
work of the preparation of the feed the
waste should no longer occur.