The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-01-10
SAVE THE FODDER

Although it is too late In the season
to consider doing anything with the
corn for ensilage purposes we should
not overlook the fact that to save the
| fodder which We have already cut is
not only our duty but is very impor-
tant from. the standpoint of having
sufficient feed for our livestock dur
ing the winter months.
OF the many ways to save the corn
| crop the use Of the silo is perhaps the
best and yet only few of the farmers
in the corn belt have taken advantage
OF this means of saving the corn crop
this season and We should begin
problem so that we can erect
one next year. The silo not only
saves 80 to 40 per cent Of the corn's
nutrition that would otherwise be
lost, but it affords a green and sufii-
cient feed during the winter months.
Crop reports sent out by the govern
ment show that the farm value OF
hay as quoted October 1st is some
what less than it was October 1st,
1911, but yet it is higher by a con-
siderable amount than usual. In other
words this indicates that the amount
Of rough feed available throughout
the country is less than normal and
for this reason We should put forth
extra efforts to save allthe fodder and
other rough feed We have as 1t will
come In mighty handy before spring.
When we consider the, Increased farm
value of hay" and the fact that II
fodder is left. standing in the field
from 25 to 40 per cent OF its feeding
value is lost We will realize how i'm
portant It is to form our plans now to
save this fodder in the best possible
shape.
Perhaps you have not done so, but
you have seen your neighbors leave
the corn fodder in the fields during
the winter months and haul 1t in day
after day as 1t was required. This is
bad practice, to say the least and we
hope that no reader OF the Service
Bureau will be found guilty OF this
practice this season. Late fall rains
coupled with occasional sleet or snow
storms not only waste considerable
amount OF the fodder but make II
extremely difficult to handle IL left in
the field. Fodder left exposed in this
manner loses its feeding value through
the loss of protein caused by the
action of the elements and by the
Of ~ han
The next best practice is to stack
the fodder as soon as the corn is
picked. 1t Is good idea to locate
tho stack somewhere convenient to
the feeding rack or on the south side
OF grove where the fodder can be
fed during the cold winter mornings
by scattering it on the ground where
the animals will be protected from
the cold northwest winds.
This brings us to the subject of
shredding fodder, which is the most
important and by far the best way of
saving fodder crop. The husker and
shredder now in common use cuts the
stalks in longitudinal sections,-into
small bits which puts it in a much
more palatable form 1t has been
found that live stock will eat much
more of the stalk when shredded than
when fed whole. The machine used
for this purpose will deliver the corn
in husked condition. The cost Of
shredding varies. Of course, in differ
ent localities, but figuring the aver
age cost of husking corn and storing
it, the expense of shredding is prac-
tically the same. Then you will not
only get the corn husked and stored
but you will have your fodder in
convenient form for storing and feed
ing. 1t is good plan to store the
shredded fodder in the hay NOW or in
some place where it can be. covered.
If IL is impossible for you to do this,
stack the Shredded fodder close to
where you intend 10 feed it. This
will not only save labor, but will re-
duce losses in handling and hauling
the shredded fodder. Another advan-
tage of shredding the fodder which is
often overlooked is the convenience
in handling the stable manure. 1t is
perhaps unnecessary to call the Corn
Belt farmers attention to this fact.
Let us plan right now to at least
stack our fodder and II possible use
shredder.
Yours very truly,
INC SERVICE BUREAU