Evening journal., 1903-01-08
IMPORTANCE OF
FODDER FOODS
Advantages Derived From
Using Mill Products for
Live Stock

whether a farmer should sell ton
OF corn and buy a ton of bran when
both are worth the same i'm the market
must depend largely upon the cost OF
transportation. There is also a differ
ence in the bran from winter and spring
Wheat and the value Of bran is also
largely influenced by the processes
used for removing It from wheat at the
mills. The true value OF bran to the
farmer is the proportion Of protein and
ash (mineral matters) contained II
corn is exchanged for bran, and bran Is
used on the farm as food for stock,
there is brought on the farm more pro-
.ein than is contained In corn, as we'll
as a larger proportionof thephosphates
(bone-forming elements) than the corn
contains The manure from bran IS
also much more valuable than that
from corn, and when a fair price can be
obtained for corn It should be to the
advantage of farmers to sell their corn
and buy bran for stock il bran does not
exceed $15 per ton.
The crop Of fodder from a field OF
corn should be equal in value TO the
grain taken therefrom, and yet the fod-
der is wasted and the grain saved. In
fact, If the fodder Is given no better
treatment than it receives ON some
farms It would be cheaper to- drive into
the fields, pull the ears from the stalks,
throw them into a wagon and haul d.
rect from the field to the crib, leay-
ing the stalks standing, than to ex-
pend labor in quitting the corn and put
ting It into shocks with the additional
work of husking the grain after the
corn is shocked. as it will save labor
by so doing, II the fodder is to be vast
ed. II is a very disagreeable task to
husk the corn in the field in coldweath-
er, and Il is an easy matter to pull the
ears from the standing corn which can
| be husked more conveniently at the
barn.
Careful experiments made show that
the fodder crop is more valuable than
may be supposed, and that a larger
proportion of the fodder would be con-
sumed If il were properly cared for, so
as to be kept i'm a bright condition. II
hay were treated in the same manner
as fodder It would be rejected. but even
In the condition in which fodder is
given to stock they accept and consume
fair quantity of it. Farmers who
have been careful with their fodder
have found that when It was cut up
fine with the feed cutter and fed in con-
nectlon with ground oats and bran not
only cattle but horses have been
brought safely through the winter in
good condition and at less cost than
with any other kind OF foods. It is a
willful waste of labor to carefully
shock the fodder and then leave il, for
even il not destroyed by winds and
rains In the field it is so deteriorated
in quality as to be unacceptable to
stock.
Corn fodder can be made to assist
the hay as food, but the point to OBJ
serve, and which is known by all ex-
perienced farmers, is that corn fodder
must be bright. or course. when cut
down in the fields it must be done at
the proper Stage Of growth, so as to
have the stalk as succulent as possible,
and as soon as the ears are removed
the fodder should be put under shelter.
It is too bulky a crop TO go into the
barn, but overlooking that point. more
care should he used in shocking it.
with the shredder or ensilage cutter a
large portion can be prepared and
make ready for use, and It will not hurt
II the fodder is well cured; but one
method is to have cheap sheds under
which the stalks can be stored, being
lpacked in a manner to permit Of a free
circulatlon af air. Still. II may be CON-
tended that Il will cost too much to
lstore under shelter and that the ccrn
can be fed more economically by throw
ing It into the barnyard. Il will be
better. however (f the corn is TO b,
used in such manner), to make g
change and shred all the stalks before
J throwing them into the barnyard. as
they will then be serviceable for bed
b ding, or may be baled in the same man.
ner as hay. Economy of feeding viii
/ fodder is 10 make IL assist hay. as tn,
E more fodder used 10 advantage, tn,
] mere hay can be sold or used for nd
= ditiOnal stock. The main point is I,
preserve the fodder in winter. and makl
: il assist in producing a profit on tho
farm.
The greater amount of protein II
bran. as compared with corn, shoulS