The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-10-10
WEEKLY FARMERS
INSTITUTE L u
Suggestions ON Feeding Corn Ensil.
g by o.. Hull, Farmers Institute
Lecturer, of Alma, Nebraska.

Corn ensilaee is a food which may
be termed "gress like" 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 a great many of the pas
ture grasses and therefore will go
farther in feeding.
AS soon as the silo is filled tho
feeding operation may start and
though it be in the heating process,
1T VIII 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 a year
old. However, ii may be safely said
mat sliage can be fed at any time
after The blower pipe is taken out of
the silo.
Sllage is strong in carbohydrates,
the principal food requirement for all
but needs protein to balance
1t. Alfalfa hay is perhaps the cheap
est and best for this purpose. Thr-
%ouShout the alfalfa belt it should
form a part of the ration where sill
age is used This is not necessary
but simply makes it possible for the
feeder to gain a greater economy in
his operations and at the same time
give the animal "A wholesome, bal
anced ration.
Corn silage may be fed out of doors
in hunks, in the stall, or i'm fact any
place where animals can eat it with
out waste. In very severe weather it
is best to feed silage inside, as some
viii freeze and this will be hard for
the stock to masticate, although the
feeder need not be alarmed over feed
ing frozen ensilage. 1t Will not in
jnre the animals, but frozen food is
not easy for them to consume.
In feeding mich COWS it is a very
good plan to give the hay in racks
outside or some place where the ami
mails will not waste it, and feed the
ensllage in the barn after milking.
1T may be given twice a day in rations
from 10 to Is pounds at a feeding or
20 to 80 pounds per day. Some large
Will take as high as 40 to SO
pounds of silage per day and make
good use of it. In feeding fattening
stock or steers, silage may be fed
twice a day in smaller rations rang
ing from 10 to Is pounds at a feed
for grown stock and for young ami
mails from 6 to II pounds. Sheep will
consume from . to 4 pounds daily
and horses from 4 to IL pounds
when not working. 1t is not advisable
to feed work horses large quantities
OF silage no more than to give them
large quantities of new grass.
Feed the ensilage so that the ami
mails 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 a steady increase in the
price of stock forage and feeds. There
has also been an increase in land
values which naturally required
greater economy in farm practice.
The stock farmer has found it diff
cult under old methods to realize a
profit from stock raising. BY the use
of thu sllo, he has been able to con-
vert a forage costing $500 per ton
INTO a feed worth from Sc to SIS per
ton. Experiment Stations and prac.
tical feeders have proven the great
economy of the silo and without a
single exception have endorsed it as
the most vital issue before the stock
feeder.