The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-08-26
Doesn't My Farm Need a SiIoP


The silo Is No longer a new thing
Il has been in use for hundreds OF
years, it has passed out Of the ex-
perimsntal stage and is now a per-
manent thing. Only those who have
never used silage condemn the silo.
The most enthusiastic silage advocates
are the men who have had the most
experience with it.
But is it not too expensive for the
PLAIN iarmerp No! Not more so
than the self binder or corn harveste T,
they all cost something at first but pay
it back many times over. A one
hundred ton silo will cost from 500 to
$500 depending upon the kind, and
will last many years.
What does It cost to fill themP
About soc a ton or about the same as
the cost of harvesting corr in the
usual way, husking, and grinding the
corn for stock.
But will my stock like the stuff?
All farm animals, from horses to hogs,
soon learn to relish 1t and do we'll on
it. / even know a man who became
fond of chewing silage while feeding
his COWS.
What crops are used for silageP
Corn is the principal one, though
almost anything may be used and will
make palatable silage il it is cut fine,
put in green, and packed tightly in a
silo with air tight sides. A silage Of
corn, three parts, and COW peas, one
part, makes an excellent feed, the
presence Of the COW peas doing away
with the necessity Of buying so much
concentrated protein feed. Sorghum
is excellent for wintering breeding
ewes; and it gives feeding steers gloss
and thrift. II the corn is rather
wasery, common straw may be cut
into the silo with it and in winter will
be eaten with equal relish. II the
corn has become dry, before cutting
into the silo could be done, 1t may be
made to keep by wetting we'll at the
time of filing. When the corn is
beginning to dent or glaze, the corn
plant contains as much food as it ever
will and should be cut at once and put
into the sIlo. The filing and har-
dening Of the corn is only effected by
the transfer Of material from the
leaves and stalk to the grain.
The silo may be made the means OF
supplying cheap, homegrown,
balanced rations, the vital point In
dairy farming in these days. To test
this point, Prof. G. G. Williams of
Ohio divided his herd into two groups
feeding o silage composed OF corn,
COW peas, soy beans, mixed hay and
four pounds of grain, and the other
corn StOver, mixed hay and 1876
pounds Of grain per day, The actual
amount of digestible food was as
nearly the same in each as could be
wished. The two sections were fed this
for an entire winter. Each COW was
charged with what she consumed ard
credited with what she gave. At the
end Of five months the following results
were found: ''The COWS fed the silage
ration produced 96.7 lbs. Of milk and
SOB lbs. OF butter fat per 100 lbs. Of
dry matter. The co VS. fed the grain
ration produced sl.3 lbs. Of milk and
Ss lbs. Of butter fat per 100 lbs. of
dry matter. The cost Of feed per 100
lbs. OF milk was so. 1887 with the silage
ration and S1.055 with the grain
ration, The cost of feed per pound of
butter fat was 49, cents with the sill.
age ration and 22.1 cents with the
grain ration. The average net profit
per COW per month (over cost Of feed)
was S.. 1914 with the Stage ration and
s2.466 with the grain ration
To sum up, what are the advantages
Of the silo?
/. Silage enables COWS to produce
more economically,
2. The silo enables a larger num-
Der Of animals to be maintained on q
given number Of acres.
3. 1t keeps the animal in better