Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-04
Soft Corn Eattens.

W. Dc ACuuCOy ouO l. VI AAOIaOh Va
the Iowa Experiment Station have is
sued statement regarding the value
OF soft corn for fattening cattle, stat
ing that chemical analysis show it to
contain as much protein and fat as
mature corn, while it holds 20 per cent |
more water. Their statement is:
"The cattle feeding business has al
ways presented many perplexing prob
lens. New factors are constantly
making their appearance. This year
the main problem Is, how can the
'soft corn crop" be utilized to the
best advantage. The early Septem-
Der frost has caused many farmer to
change his former methods. In form
er years, men engaged in the cattle
feeding business because they liked it
and considered it to be the most pro-
| fitable market for their corn. They
| also purchased corn from their neigh
bors and realized profit on the same
by converting the raw material into
| a finished product in the form OF fat
steer. This year many men who for
merly belonged to that large but un-
fortunate class this Year, known as
"grain farmers, ''are obliged to change
their methoes and bs come cattle feed
ers. In the cattle feeding business
like any other kind OF work, the ex-
perienced man is most likely to reap
| the cash profit, while a large percen-
tage of men who are new in the husi-
ness are likely to have as their reward
one years credit in that costly but
never failing school Of experience.
"Many cattle feeders are inclined to
believe that the early frost has al
most completely ruined the feeding
value of late corn. The corn being
soft and presenting chaffy appear
ance is considered to be almost worth
less. In order that we might be able
to furnish some reliable data on this
all-important subject, we have taken
the matter up both from scientific
and practical standpoint. Samples OF
corn of the various varieties, repre-
sentlng different stages of develop
ment and collected on many different
farms, have been analysed and the re-
suits compared with the analysis of
mature corn grown in in 1900 and
1901. A car load of good feeding steers
was also purchased and divided into
two lots of as nearly uniform weight,
quality, breeding, etc., as it was pos
sible to divide them. One lot is be-
ing finished on 1890 corn. The other
lot on "soft corn" While it is too
early to give any definite results as
| yet to the public, as the experiment
will be carried on for at least three
months longer making in all five
months test, the results up to this
time would indicate that "soft corn"
possessed nearly as much feeding
value as fully matured corn.
"The chemical analysis shows that
the 'ssoft corn" contains about the
same amount of protein and fat as
mature corn. The only preceptible
difference is that 1T contains about
| twenty per cent more water and in
some instances trife higher percen
), tage of protein. On a water dry basis
the results are approximately the
same. This would indicate that when
the corn is husked out and dried that
pound for pound, it will contain as
, much nourishment as fully matured
. corn. The chaffy appearance Of the
corn is unmistakable evidence that
/ the yield per acre is very much less
], than it would have been had the corn
, fully matured. Another point to be
:, | considered is that there will be 6
:. much larger percentage Of cob in com
:, parison to the amount of corn than ir
former years. Thus corn and col
meal will not be as valuable as wher
, fully matured corn has been ground
Our analysis differs from that report
y ed by Professor Snyder, Of the Mime
sofa Station, who stated that the col
contained much of tae nourishmen1
! which was not to be found in the corr
= itself. We are unable to find any no.
!, ticeable difference in the chemical
composition of the cob of the "soft
!, corn" and that of the cob of the ma.
, b ture corn. From the chemical analy.
sis made here, we would be inclined to
regard 120 bushels of the "soft corn''
in its present state to be equal in feed
ing value to 100 bushels of matured
corn. AS the ''soft corn" dries out,
this difference will gradually grow
less pound for pound until the "soft
I corn" is thoroughly dried when they
will be of equal value pound fol
pound.
1.-THE weather during the next 81,
> weeks will be the greatest factor ii
e determining the value of the corr
t crop Of 1902. Clear, warm, dry wealth
er will mean millions of dollars to thu
o farmers OF this country while damn
! weather will mean millions of dollars
8 of damage to the corn crop. II thu
t corn can be properly dried, feeders
r need not change their former methods
of feeding. While the corn is ''soft'
i poth;pr xui1l carva a hotkor o,,,o,o =