The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-12-21
SiIage as a Feed.
ey Professor w. A. LInkiater

BY Professor w. A. llnkiater
Department Of Animal tusbandry, A. q
NJ. College, Stillater, Okla.
Sllage, whether II be made from
corn. kaflr, milo or some other crop.
IL cured properly. will not differ very
materially from the green crop from
which II is made No matter how well
the crop is packed in the silo a small
amount Of air will remeain between
the pieces OF silage. Decomposition
will take place just in proportion to
the amount OF air present. In good
silo properly filled, this loss by de-
composition will probably range from
s to 10 per cent. There is a loss in
dry matter through this decomposition
and breaking down TO certain ex-
tent OF the protein and carbohydrates
into somewhat less nutritious COM
pounds. Silage through the curing pro-
cess in the silo does not increase in
digestlbility. II contains somewhat
less nutriment and is slightly less d.
gestibile than the green crop from
which II was made. The silage consists
OF from 20 to so per cent water. II ia
consequently very succuient feed
anu bOOu 10 NtIy "
live stock. Prairie hay. alfalfa hay,
cowpea hay and similar hays ordinar-
lily contain from 10 TO is parts OF water
TO the hundred, sorghum hay and kahr
hay usually contain from 20 to rs
parts OF water, while corn fodder con-
tains on an average from 40 to 80 parts
water. The water In these feeds has
no value as nutriment and their
actual and comparative feeding value
largely depends on the proportion OF
digestible dry matter contained.
Experiments indicate that corn
cured as silage is approximately 10
per cent more efficient for feeding
dairy cows, fattening steers and grow.
ing cattle than the same corn cured
as fodder. There are other advantages
In favor OF the silage. The silage will
be eaten up clean by the stock where
there would ordinarily be 10 per cent
or more corn fodder left uneaten. ST.
lage isl very palatsble and is stored
conveniently so that 1t is available for
feeding at all times.
slLAoE FOR DAIRY cows.
1t is practical to feed dairy COWS In
full milk from 80 to 80 pounds OF silags
daily. Silage 10 considered to take the
place in the ration Of one quarter as
much hay or two-fifths AZ much ~
corn fodder by weight Besides having
tendency to stimulate milk flow
silage promotes the health of the COW.
, South Carolina Experiment Station and
some practical dairymen have salts
/ factorily fed cows on q ration oon-
r sisting solely OF silage as roughage
!. and cotton seed meal az a concentrate.
3 This makes one Of the cheapest ra.
A tions possible and suitable for cows
A kept for commercial dairying. but NOT
a ration to be recommended for valu'
able pure bred dairy cows.
9 FOR FATTENlNo CATTLE.
d Silage has been found to be feed
Q well suited for feeding fattening cattle
T. by a number OF Experiment Stations
g and practical feeders. Ordinarily II IL
g not practical TO feed It as tho sole
& roughage In ration TO fattening cat
d tie and seldom in excess OF 80 pounds
3 daily per steer. While silage fed steer,
" are found to make satisfactory and
Il economical gains and show thrifty
p snappy condition. where they are fed
d in a cold climate they must have more
It protection than cattle feed dry feed.
: FOR GROWING CATTLE.
A silage furnishes succulent ration
r. much appreciated by young cattle
I. They will maintain snappy. sleek
II thrifty condition through the winter
n season when literally fed on ra
II tIon consisting Of silage.
o FOR HORSES.
70 Sliage is not well suited to hors,
s. feeding. In the case OF many horses 4
y predisposes to mushiness and collie
y 1t is seldom practical to feed sllage t.
= horses In excess OF 10 pounds dali,
!. and hard worked horses should no
- be fed more than 5 pounds each daily
n FOR SHEEP.
e Half of the roughage ration fol
c. sheep may satisfactorily consist OF 81
q lage. Breeding ewes cannot be salts
al factorily maintained during the winte
season on silage alone.
ig FOR HOGS.
Silage is not a hog feed and in gen
-. eral It would be waste to feed silag'
80 to hogs, as they viii eat little but th'
NJ grain.
- FOR POULTRY.
ly Poultry will eat little of the silag
a except the grain and for this reason
al would be a waste to feed good corn
TX kafr, milo or sorghum silage to poul
try.