Fergus County Democrat., 1910-11-22

out milk, butter cheese, and various
kinds of meats. The colt, calf and
lamb even come in to make home life
attractive, but these cannot be raised
without some kind of hay at rea-
sonable price.
In composition fodder corn is very
much the same as timothy hay. It
contains nearly as much digestible
protein and fat as timothy, but con-
tans less carbohydrate, as shown by
the following table:
Protein. Carbohydrates. Fat
Timothy -.2.8 43.4 Ia
Corn fodder..-.-- $40 IL
Corn fodder is very palatable and
if it is grown under proper conditions,
cut at the proper time and properly
cured, horses, cattle and sheep will
make excellent use OF it. 1t is not a
hog food when cured, but swine will
do we'll on it in the green state.
1t is safe to say that ton of corn
fodder is nearly equal to ton of
timothy hay. At the Pennsylvania
experiment station, as food for cows,
timothy hay and corn fodder were
equal in value, but the timothy caused
storage of fat in body, while corn
fodder increased the fat production III
the milk
Corn fodder can be fed from the
middle of August until the grass
comes in the spring. As a soiling
crop in the fall, it can't be beaten,
and as winter food along with such
alfalfa as the Judith Basin can pro-
duce, it has no equal. Alfalfa can
undoubtedly be raised to very great
advantage in the Judith Basin and it
furnishes feed for all kinds Of animals
the whole year 1t makes good pas
ture, but for cattle and sheep it must
be carefully fed, as it is likely to
cause bloat, which may result in
death of the animal. Alfalfa makes a
good soiling crop and when so fed,
the danger from bloat is greatly re-
duced Alfalfa will provide plenty Of
feed from spring until the fodder corn
is ready to feed in August, after which
the two fed together will give we'll
balanced ration until the next spring.
On dry lands raising livestock is
undoubtedly question of soiling as
the pastures dry up early in the sea
son, and in this there is no plant that
can take the place of corn. Sheep
| and cattle can be carried through the
year in this manner. Horses can be
fed corn fodder, alone, or with other
forage and they relish it greatly.
There is nothing harmful in it for
them and it produces both fat and
muscle, when properly blended with
other foods
The question Of fattening steers is
big one and this can be done ste
cessfully winters, where corn fodder
and alfalfa can be grown. The
climate of the Judith Basin is ideal
for this purpose. The farmer will
have to take care Of his steers up to
the fattening period, the same as he
does of his milch cows and other
farm animals. The economy of this
operation depends upon what he can
grow.
Putting the value of $1,000 per ton
on corn fodder the same as on tim
| othy hay gives return per acre from
$1,000 to $1,000, but there are other
advantages than from the mere feed
ing of fodder. The soil is put into
better condition by such rotation,
which the farmer should not over
look.
The first thing the farmers Of the
Judith Basin should work out, is
whether or not, corn fodder is sue
cess all years. There are some sec
tions in Montana that will produce
corn fodder successfully one year
but may not do it again for long
timer w. Clark, Prof. of Animal
Industry, Montana Agricultural Col
lege.