The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-10-18
An Argument Against the Silo.


An Argument Against the Silo.
We have q communication from a
Nebraska subscriber which criticises
somewhat severely what he terms,
1.-The Silo Campaign" He calls at
tention to the fact that the conversion
of corn into ensilage in no wise in
creases its feeding value, whereas the
same corn placed in the shock and
sensibly fed out maintains practically
its full worth for feeding purposes.
He says that neighbor used ensilage
last winter for his herd of dairy COWS
and although he fed his cows practi-
cally all the ensilage and hay they
would eat they did not give as good
results as they formerly did on corn
fodder. hay and grain. This sup
scriber states that the average man
is led to believe that the feeding of
ensilage does away with the necessity
of using grain, while as a matter of
fact calls attention to the urgent ne
cessity of using some of the high
priced concentrates in connection with
it.
1t is true that there has been con-
siderable of a campaign waged dur
ing the last year or two in favor of
the 'silo. The eXDerin ent stations
have been leaders in this campaign be-
cause practically every station in the
grain belt has issued ore or more tul-
letins in which information is given
on types of silOs and instruction i'm
parted in regard to their erection.
The agricultural press has also been
most enthusiastic about endorsing the
silo proposition and it is unfortunate
if in the enthusiasm of the campaign
farmers have been misled as to the
value of ensilage. We can only speak
for ourselves when We say that We
have never indicated that ensilage vas
anything but a One-sided ration. We
have repeatedly stated that because
of its palatability and therefore its
ease of digestibility, farm animals
could be carried through the winter
in a more thrifty condition on ensilage
alone than would be the case if fed
corn in any other form. This is not
equivalent, however. to saying that
concentrates should not be used in
connection with this highly priced
food. AS a matter of fact when used
for dairy cows or for fattening cattle it
is absolutely necessary that balance
be struck by the use of such foods as
bran, oil meal or cotton seed meal.
We can imagine many a man being
disguised with ensilage before grass
comes another year because of its fail
ure to greatly increase the production
Of dairy herd or to internally increase
the economy of grains in fattening
cattle. Wherever this complaint is
made, however, one may rest assured
that the poor results have been due
to the fact that little or no attempt
has been made to sensibly use cOncen-
trates. There is absolutely no excuse
for any man going to the expense of
building silo and cutting up his corn
if he is going to turn around and feed
it to cows in such way that they
will produce $50 or 200 pounds of
butter annually. Men who own silos
cannot afford to handle cows unless
they can produce at last $50 pounds
of butter a year and this can be done
only when fairly good cows are kept
and when they are fed a judiciously
balanced ration.
The same general principle will hold
true in the case of those who expect
to use ensilage for beef-making pur-
poses. While ensilage may be more
nearly adapted to this purpose thar
for use as food for dairy cows with
out any adjunct it is nevertheless true
that for the purpose of making eco
nOmical gains some form Of food rich
in protein is an absolute essential.
1t goes without saying that whether
in dairying or in beef making the man
who does not have fairly good stock
to work on is going to be disappointed
with his results and he will regret the
investment he has made in a silO
and will mourn over the useless labor
that has been expended in filling it.
In short, the silo fittingly typifies the
new agriculture, a form of equipment
as much out of place where old fash
Toned stock IS handled as silk hat in
with barnyard boots. The
Iowa Homestead.