The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-22
Shredding of Corn Slower Has
Come into Favor With Farmers
az ISAAC L. TOTEM.
written exclusively for the Palla-


az ISAAC L. TOTEM.
(Written exclusively for the Palla-
dium)
During the past few years the shred
ding of corn stover has come more in
to favor again. This practice died out
considerably for a while owing to the
fact that the stover spoiled for large
number OF farmers. 1t was not the
fault of the shredding, however; it was
the condition of the slower when plac-
ed in the barn. Some did not wait un-
til a sufficient amount of the moisture
was out Of the stalks. that is, they did
not wait until the sap had dried. 9th
ers shredded while the fodder was too
wet from the rains or snow. The result
from this, of course, was molding OF
the slower; and, in some cases, it rot
ted, and was fit only. for manure.
One of our neighbors who is enthu-
siastic over the husker and shredder
said:
II believe that ! save money by hav-
ing my fodder corn run through the
husker and shredder. One reason is;
that when the fodder is in the proper
shape for shredding. can get both the
corn and the shredded slower out of
the field and in the dry in short order.
1t sometimes happens that If the fod-
der is not taken care of at just the
right time it must remain in the field
until nearly spring. This means that 1t
is practically valueless at that time"
It is claimed by many authorities
that at least twenty-five per cent Of
the nutriment contained in the stalks
Is lost when the stalks are exposed to
the storms. Much of this loss is pre-
vented, Of course, when the fodder is
get up in the shocks. Then only those
stalks on the outside of the shocks
are greatly damaged.
When we consider that, under nor
nal conditions, there is 81 per cent Of
the total feed value of the corn crop
in the stalks it is quite evident that
the retaining of the full nutritive value
of these stalks should be looked after.
From an acre of corn Of average
yield the fodder amounts to from to
3 tons. Statistics show that in this
amount Of stover of average quality,
there are approximately IS pounds of
protein, 1900 pounds OF carbohydrates
and % pounds of other extract. A steer
weighing 1000 pounds requires daily
about f1ve-tenths of pound of protein,
6 pounds of carbohydrates, and about
one-tenth of a pound of either extract.
In three separate feeding tests con-
Quoted by the Wisconsin Experiment
Station it was proven that arproxi-
mately "a per cent of the total value
of unshredded fodder is lost.
In the first test, 721 pounds of shred
ded fodder was fed. There was no
waste, and the milk production amour
ted to $3.50 pounds. The same number
of COWS were fed 1888 pounds of
whole stalks. In this test there was a
waste of 1853 pounds OF stalks and the
total amount of milk produced amount
ed to 1,419 pounds.
In the second trial, 1917 pounds of
shredded fodder was used, all the sto-
yer was eaten and 1,41S pounds of
milk was produced. 1,945 pounds of
whole stalks were fed to an equal
number of cows. There was a waste of
578 pounds, only 1889 pounds of milk
were produced, and yet 700 pounds
more forage was consumed.
During the third trial. 1900 pounds
of fodder was fed in each case. All the
shredded stover was eaten while 143
pounds of the whole stalks were left
in the manger. The COWS to which the
whole stalks were fed gave only S72
pounds of milk, while the ones fed
shredded fodder produced 9S9 pounds
We believe that these figures are
worth considering. 1t is estimated that
with hay selling at the present price,
corn stover has feeding value of not
less than $500 a ton.
1t is difficult t determine just how
much money is saved by shredding,
from the labor standpoint, or If any is
saved: but from indications we would
say, that there is a saving. The diff
Guilty in arriving at any definite fig
ures as to the saving, is in the differ
ence of the quality of the corn and in
the various other conditions applica-
BILE to each individual job.
The farmers in this locality who
were fortunate enough to get their fod-
der corn husked before the cold snap
came, are now congratulating them