The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1912-10-11
THE FEEDING OF
CORN ENSILAGE
BY o. T, Hull,
Farmers Institute Lecturer,

OF Alma, Nebraska,
Corn ensilage is food which may
be termed "grasslike. For this rea-
son it can be used very much as pas
ture in the feeding of domestic ami
mails. The analysis of good corn sill
age, however. will show that it is
richer than great many of the pas
ture grasses and therefore win go
farther in feeding.
As soon as the silo is filed the
feeding operation may start and
though 1t be in the heating process,
it will be just as good food and will
be relished by the animals quite as
much as old silage. 1t Is generally
conceded, however, that silage which
is several months old is better than
newer silage. Some feeders prefer
silage that is six months to year old.
However, it may be said that silage
can be fed at any time after the blow
er pipe is taken out Of the silo.
Silage is strong In carbohydrates.
the principal food requirement for all
animals but needs protein to balance
it. Alfalfa hay is perhaps the cheap
est and best for this purpose. Thr,-
ughout the alfalfa belt it should form
a part of the ration where silage is
used. This is not necessary but SIM
ply makes IL possible for the feeder
to gain a greater economy in his op-
erations and at the same time give
the animal wholesome, balanced
ration.
Corn silsge may be fed out of doors
in hunks, in the stall, or in fact any
place where animals can eat without
waste. In yerv severe weather 1t is
best to feed silsge inside, as some
will freeze and this will be hard for
the stock to masticate, although the
feeder need not be alarmed of over
feeding frozen ensilage. u will not
injnre the animals. but frozen food IL
not easy for them to consume.
In feeding milch cows 1t is . very
god plan tc sxixsithe hay In racks
outside or some place where the ant
mails will not waste it. and feed the
ensilage in the barn after milking. 1t
may be given twice day in rations
from ten to fifteen pounds at q feed
ing or twenty to thirty pounds per
day. Some large animals will take
as high ~ forty to fifty pounds of sill
age per day and make good use Of it.
In feeding fattening stock or steers
silage may be fed twice day in
smaller rations ranging from ten to
fifteen pounds at a feed for grown
stockand for young animals from six
to twelve pounds. Sheep will con-
sumo from two to four pounds daily
and horses from four to twelve pounds
when not working. 1t Is not advis-
able to feed work horses large quap-
titles Of sllage no more than to give
them large quantities of new grass.
Feed tie silage so that the animals
will eat it up clean as IT spoils or
freezes when exposed to the air for
several days.
During the past few years, there
has been steady increase In the
price of stock forage and feeds. There
has also been an increase In land val-
ues which naturally required greater
economy in farm practice. The stock
farmer has found it difficult under
old methods to realize a profit from
stock raising. BY the use of the silo,
he has been able to convert q forage
costing two dollars per ton into feed
worth from six to eight dollars per
ton. Experiment stations and practi-
cal feeders have proven the great
economy of the silo and without a
single exception have endorsed 1t as
the most vital issue before the stock
feeder.