Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-10-11
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Suggestions on Feeding Corn En-.
silage, By o. Hull, Farmers In
stitute Lecturer, of Alma,
Nebraska,

corn enSlIaRe Is q 1000 winch may
be termed Grass like" For this rea-
son it a be used very much as pas
ture in the feeding OF domestic
animals. The analysis of good corn
silage, however, will show that 1t 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 the feed
ing 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 sill
age. Some feeders prefer silage that
Is six months to a wear old. However,
1t may be safely said that silage can
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. Through
out the alfalfa belt it should form a
part of the ration where silage Is
used. This is not necessary but SIM
ply makes it possible for the feeder to
gain a greater economy in his opera
lions and at the same time give the
animal a wholesome, balanced ration.
Corn silage may be fed out OF doors
in hunks, in the stall, or in fact any
place where animals car eat it with
out waste. In very severe weather it
is best to feed silage inside, as some
will 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
jure the animals, but frozen food is
not easy for them to consume.
In feeding milch COWS it is a very
good plan to give the hay in racks
outside or some place where the
animals will not waste it, and feed
the ensilage In the barn after milk
ing. 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 animals will take as high
IS 40 to so pounds OF silage per day
and make good s Of it. In feeding
fattening stock or steers, silage may
be fed twice a day In smaller rations
ranging from 10 to Is pounds at a
feed for grown stock and for young
animals from 6 to II pounds. Sheep
will consume from 2 to 4 pounds
daily and horses from 4 to IL pounds
when not working. 1t is not advis-
able to feed work horses large quanti-
ties of silage no more than to give
them large quantities of new grass.
Feed the ensilage 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 a steady increase In the
price of stock forage and feeds. There
has also been an increase in land
values which naturally required great
er economy In farm practice. The
stock farmer has found 1t difficult I'M
der old methods to realize a profit
from stock raising. BY the use OF the
silo, he has been able to convert a
forage costing $500 per ton into a
feed worth from So. 90 to Ss. 90 per ton.
Experiment. Stations and practical
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.