Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-29
BEEF PRODUCTION ON THE FARM.
THE VALUE OF THE SILO NOT LIMITED
TO THE DAIRY-THE FEEDING CAPA-
CITY OF THE FARM GREATLY IN
CREASED.

have been user of the silo for about
fifteen years, and have gone all through
the stages of ridicule, curiosity, tolerar
ton and triumph. Now, my community
counts its silos by the dozen, and those
doubling Thomases who one time could
see nothing in the silo but fool notion
or a 'fad" now either are advocates OF
the silo or admit its usefulness in
economical live stock feeding. 1t is
certainly true that those dairies in which
the silo is most extensively used are the
most successfully conducted, and are
much larger numerically in proportion
to farm acreage.
But, while the silo is admitted to be a
close business companion to the dairy,
its value in beef growing and making is
not so universally known. 1t is an es-
tablished truth in animal husbandry
that the feed that is most useful for
producing milk in the dairy animal is
equally valuable in producing growth in
the growing animal, and largely, also,
in producing fat in the beef animal. 1t
that unknown quantity in the animal
proposition, the dual purpose or general
purpose animal, shall ever be evolved
into an actual living specimen, and cease
to be merely creature of imagination,
the silo filled with good corn will be the
proper feed for this ideal animal.
1t would appear that the time is fast
approaching in the East when the East
ern farmers will again produce beef, If
not for the full supply of local markets,
certainly for large portion of it. The
old idea that grazing is necessary for
bovine animals is fast losing ground
among cattlemen and farmers occupying
land high in value, for the three to five
acres usually considered sufficient pas
turage area per head for mature animal
or a fattening one will produce corn,
which, if properly preserved in the silo,
will furnish roughage of the most su-
perior kind for four times as many
animals as roamed overit grazing. This
increase of animal capacity is an i'm
portant consideration in these days of
close agricultural calculations, when by
the very force of circumstances the tend
ency is toward intensitication and in
creased productiveness. To these ends,
in the saving of manure in stables and
pens where the steers are fed and pass
most of their time, the silo gives practi-
cal assistance; for there is no manner OF
doubt that many of the fertilizer bills
can profitably be changed to feed bills,
and the profit resulting from enriched
acres may be added to the profit the
feeder has directly from his animals.
Properly made silage from we'll grown
corn has feeding value far beyond any
tabulated estimate any chemist ever
marked down for it, as is well known to
all observant and careful feeders. Its
tonic effect on the appetite, thereby in
ducing greater consumption and COM
pleted assimilation of other feeds; its
keeping the animal system in perfect
health and therefore in best condition
for performing the animal functions Of
making milk or growth or meat, are
values outside and beyond the skill and
learning of the chemist.
At prices even much below the present
sensational market figures for beef,
there is no doubt that the careful and
intelligent feeder of the East, by the use
of the silo, cottOnseed meal and the
glutens, and such hays and folders as
may not be profitably sold to the city
markets, if he shall have young, we'll
bred animals, can produce finished beef
at profit directly from his animals and
with lasting and more important profit
from the increased fertility of his land.
This / have proved and have DONE
W. r. McSparran in Tribune Farmer.