The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-08
THE IMPORTANCE OF slLAGE.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SlLAGE.
Tho slo may be defined as an air
light receptacle in which food tor
took may be stored and preserved.
rhe crops most suitable for silage in
Oklahoma are the indian corn and
sarious sorgaums, The crop TO DO
cut for silage Is harvested when 1t Is
mature With Indian corn 1t ID cut
when the stalk is stiil full OF the rich
sugar juices, when the lower leaves
are beginning TO turn yellow and the
iefnels Of corn arc becoming glazed
and hard. AT this stage the corn
plant has attained its maximum feed
ng value. The starchy juices have
hanged to sugar and the unorganized
nitrogcnons substance has been con-
yerted into organized and protein
compounds are formed. On close in
3pectlon of the corn plant at this stage
we have stalk full OF rich sugary
juices, the fiber OF the stalk not yet
hard and woody, an ear OF corn COW
cred with green palatable husks,
cob soft and full OF juice, the kernel
itself practically mature and more dl-
gestible than ear corn.
In making aiIage this stalk OF corn
with its ear Is cut into pieces halt
inch to an inca In length, 1t Is packed
into the silo with other juicy stalks.
In the sllo IL becomes heated or par
TALLY cooked like 1t had been through
a freless cooker which perhaps makes
Il easier to digest.
Corn silage when taken from the
silo contains trife less moisture
than the stalk when put into the silo.
Three factors must be considered In
determining the food value OF any
plant:
/. The amount OF food nutrients Il
contains per 100 pounds.
2. The kind and digestlbility OF
these nutrients.
8. The succulenec or palatability OF
the food.
The corn plant harvested Mt the
stage II is cut for silage contains It's
maximum amount of food nutrients.
At this stage the corn plant Is full
OF rich sugar juices and hence is sue
culent and palatable The plant re-
talns these qualities when preserved
in the silo
An acre OF corn will make from $
TO Is tons Of silage, depending upon
the crop Tho better the yield OF the
crop tho better tho silage for there
will be a greater proportion Of corn or
grain.
Tho analysis Of corn silage as com
pared with alfalfa hay and cotton seed
meal is as follows:
Dry Car. Ether
Mat Pro bohy- Ex-
ter. tein. drates tract.
Corn sllage ....20,9 3 ll3 z
Alfalfa hay ......9t.6 H. 1914 liz
Cotton seed meal 9l.S 372 1863 1872
-Four pounds Of corn silage is nearly
equal in dry matter to / pound OF
alfalfa hay and contains about IL as
much protein, twice as much ether ex'
tract and more carbohydrates.
In terms of equivalents it Is safe 10
figure that 20 pounds Of silage and
pound OF cotton seed meal is equal to
pounds OF alfalfa hay in feeding
value a good ration for a cow
weighing 500 pounds and giving 20
pounds OF milk daily would be:
40 lbs SihEe, cost at $3.50 per ton SOC
2 lbs. cottonsccd meal at $1,000
pcr ton ................... z.bc
GIBBS. alfalfa hay at $500 per ton 7.5c
---
Total cost .........+...... l0.lc
The succulent part of the above
ration is supplied in the corn silage.
Every one knows the results Of the
succulent effects OF May and June
pasture on cattle The pasture cor
reefs any digestive disorder and sets
the system In proper order A new
constitutional condition is produced.
We say the COW is in better c0ndi-
ton Its hide becomes loose, and
soft and mellowy, the hair loses its
harshness and becomes silky and
glossy. We say the stock looks
thrifty This we know to be the
results Of turning the cows on pas
ture II Is good for the cows TO get
c,ose to nature and get Natures
food. The nearest we can approxi-
mate Natures food In preserving
food for cows is close substitute
for pasture and its importance in
profitable dairying should not be
oYerlooked.-Roy c. Potts. Depart
ment OF Dairying, Oklahoma A. & NJ.
College, saltwater.