The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-08-02
EEDNG AND MANAGEMENT OF LIVE STOCK.
X.-The Silo and Ensilage.

A JAN 00 AAO6"
The silo does for live stock what fruit cans and
fruit jars for man. One knows a tomato will
quickly decay if not put in the fruit jar where it
can be sealed so as to prevent the entrance of
the air and bacteria. The silo is a large pit that
holds cut-up corn or other forage and keeps it
succulent and prevents the maturity of the plant
cells. The object of the silo is to keep the forage
as near the green state as possible. To this fact
lies the noted value of ensilage. AS we like dur
ing winter an apple that has been stored away
in the cellar in preference to a dried one, so will
live stock relish, in d greater degree, the corn
plant if kept as nearly the green state as possible.
In a previous chapter we discussed the import
ance of palatability in a ration. No difference
how ~nutritive a feeding stuff is, if the animal
does not like it, it usually is a failure as a milk
or meat producer. Of course no one claims that
ensilage contains greater feeding value than the
cured product. A silo has nothing about it to
make more protein or carbohydrates or fat. But
the juice is there, the flavor is there, and the
effect of freshness and greenness.
ECONOMY IN ENsILAGE.
There is great economy in ensilage in the fact
that a larger part of the product is eaten. The
student knows that if the whole corn plant is fed.
for instance, the ear and leaves are the only parts
dJCh Il lily hd11 J"C SOO1h NoAoC ID 10 AS
however, you can put it in the silo, every particle
is eaten. The feeding value is doubled in this
way. The silo, then assists the feeder in taking
care of a larger number of animals from an equal
area.
Another point in economy lies in the storage of
the feeding stuff. A silo is cheaply constructed
and holds an immense quantity of forage that is
always at hand where feeding is to be done. Thus
the labor for winter feeding is materially lessened
by the use of the silo.
Wherever high-class beef animals are raised or
profitable d~airying is being carried on, there the
student will find the silo and its highest and best
use employed.
FEEDING ENsILAGE.
The quantity of ensilage fed depends somewhat
on the kind of forage used. An ensilage made of
clover, cow-peas or alfalfa contains more protein
than one made of corn. If either of the former
were used, from fifteen to twenty pounds would
be sufficient for a daily feed. On the other hand.
if corn ensilage is fed, from twenty-five to fifty
pounds can be fed, thirty to forty being the aver
age. Ensilage can be fed once or twice each day.
If a small quantity is used in the daily ration the
feeder can use ensilage but once; a larger quaint
itv will require two feelings. The use of ensil-
age should be regular, that is, every day, so as
to keep the top of the silo fed off to keep from
spelling. One or two inches from the whole OF
the top will prevent any decay. Feeding in the
stall should be done just after milking, otherwise
the odor may be observed in the milk. The grain
can be fed either in connection or just before
feeding the ensilage.
CROPS FOR ENsILAGE.
There are only a few crops that can be success
fnllv used for ensilage. The great silo crop is
corn: and so much so, whenever silo is spoken of
one invariably thinks of corn ensilage.