The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-07
About shredded Corn Irodaer.

II
State Dairymen's convention ON the
subject Of corn fodder, as given n your
paper of 9Th and 10th insts. While
those discussing the matter realize the
great value Of corn fodder as feed
product when properly prepared, their
comparisons with other feed has not
quite reached the experience of some
others. Mr.. Giles Green, one Of the
largest farmers in Whiteside county
stated before convention Of farmers
that he had tested the value Of shred
ded fodder with good timothy hay as
q feed for horses. He took pair OF
good healthy horses and weighed into
the manager all the hay the pair OF
horses could eat in twenty-four hours,
and took out Of the manger and weigh
cd what they had not eaten, and did
the same with shredded fodder, and
found the horses had eaten only four
teen pounds Of shredded fodder and
had eaten thirty-seven pounds Of tim
othy hay. The difference being 216
times more hay to satisfy the horses
than fodder, which was an astonishing
statement to the farmers present. Mr..
Green has fed but little hay to either
horses or cattle. He finds the fodder
is much more satisfactory than hay,
and feeds from $50 to 200 head of cat
tie, also a large number Of horses each
| year. The value Of the fodder as a
feed depends on the time it is cut of.
It has been found that the proper time
TO cut of the fodder and get 1t into
the shock is after the kernels Of the
ear begin to dent, which is an evidence
that the drying process has COM
menced, after which the development
or growth Of the corn has ceased.
When cut at this stage the corn, when
shelled, will weigh more to the bushel
than when left to dry on the stalk be-
fore cutting. Cause, the kernel will
dry quicker and harder in the shock
than when left on the stalk on the
ground. When dried on the stalk each
kernel will have a pithy end, which
helps to make up the bulk to the meas
ure, but does not add to the weight.
When cut at this stage the saccharine
matter which produces the ear is still
inherent in the stalk, which is pre-
served by drying after being cut of,
and adds to the quality Of the fodder.
When horses are fed on timothy hay
their bowels become distended and
cause more or less constipation, while
with fodder the bowels can be kept in
healthy condition, making the evac-
uations easier and more healthy, The
same result will be noticeable in feed
Ing cattle or sheep. When fodder is
plentiful feed it literally, and what is
not eaten may be used for bedding,
1t will make better bedding than
straw, as it absorbs the liquids and
droppings of the animals better. AS a
feed for milk cows it is far better than
any kind of hay. 1t will produce more
milk and richer in butter fat than can |
be attained from feeding hay. 1 think |
Prof. Sanborn has given out as the re-
suit Of experience with shredded fod-
der that when properly prepared it is
better feed for COWS than ensilage;
while ensilage may produce a larger
flow Of milk. the milk will not be so
rich in butter fat, nor will the butter
keep so well as when the COWS are fed
on dry fodder. The condensed milk
factory at Dixon, Illinois, will not buy
milk from cows fed on ensilage as
they claim the milk will not keen so
well. / am glad to see this discussion
going on in reference to the value of
corn fodder. The farmers in the corn
growing belt have wasted enough Of
their corn crop by letting the fodder
stand in the field to pay the national
debt every year, being satisfied to go
into the field and take the ear of corn
and letting the stalk go to waste. which
contains as much feeding value to the
farmer as the ear, although 1t is not
worth as much as q commercial COM
modify. There are many farmers who
are not aware that the stalk on which
the corn grows is about equal in
weight to the ear of corn, that is. a
held Of corn which will produce two
tons OF corn to the acre will produce
the same weight Of fodder. I believe
l was the first person to bring into no.
tice shredded corn fodder as a valuable
feed, and l have some other expert
ments in process which will be a won
derful development to the farmers in
che further manipulation Of corn fod-
der as feed which will show results
that have never been attained, and will
still further increase the value of the
corn crop.
Some Wheat Experiments.