The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-05-16
SILAGE FOR DAIRY COWS.

! Importance of feeding their COWS some
sort Of succulence all the year round.
If it isn't pasture, it is some soiling
crop, roots or silage. AS a matter of
fact it doesn't make a great deal of
difference which one of these is used
except in so far as the yield of diges-
tible nutriments is concerned, and by
that is meant that a pound of diges-
tible protein in one succulent feed will
serve practically the same purpose
when fed in some other succulent feed.
Silage is nothing more nor less than
preserved green feed. Almost any of
our field crops have been preserved
successfully in the silo. SLIDING is
one way, and practically the only way
/ of preserving all the feeding value of
any green crop until such time as it
may be fed to the greatest advantage.
/ In curing a crop of hay about 30 to
so per cent of the food value is lost,
the exact amount lost depending upon
the method of curing and the amount
of teaching that has taken place. If
crop can be put into the silo while
green, the loss need not exceed or
10 per cent.
Corn is generally considered the
ideal silage crop, and it will probably
remain so in the localities where it
grows well. While Washington and
the neighboring states are not con-
sidered corn producing states, never
theless there are places here and there
where excessively large crops of corn
can be raised, and in almost every To-
cality small crops can be grown.
Corn for silage should be planted a
little thi ker than for grain. A good
ear is desirable in some cases, but we
should not sacrifice the amount of
succulence in trying to get a large
grain crop. If we can get consider
able higher yield of succulent feed by
planting it thicker it will, of course,
mean more profit to us than if we
planted it thinner and had a heavier
yield of grain.
Corn for silage should be cut when
the kernels are beginning to dent.
Oftentimes a mistake of cutting too
green is made, and invariably the re-
suit is sour silage If no ear is formed
the corn should be cut when two or
three of the bottom leaves have dried
completely and the butt of the stalks
is fairly hard. In the case of the frost
ing of the corn, make it a point to put
it into the silo before it has time to
dry, and if it gets so dry that it can
not be packed evenly, pour in water
as it goes into the silo, and there will
be no trouble with moldy silage.
In places where corn will not do
we'll, almost any of the legumes can be
used to advantage in the silo. Alfalfa
if cut when the blossoms are about
half or more out, will make excellent
prove to be the best silage crop. All
legumes should be allowed to wilt a
trifle before being put away. The |
reason for this is that the high protein
content together with the high mois- |
ture content will produce a sour silage, |
but if the crop is wilted somewhat it !
will be preserved with the proper
amount of acidity Legumes are very
often put in with a grain hay, as for
example, clover and oats, oats and
peas, barley and peas, and vetch and
oats. When so put in the danger of
sour silage is increased from the fact
that the prese ice of the hollow stem
grain incases considerable air which
is conducive to mold fermentation
Such mixed crops should be we'll cut,
and firmly tramped to exclude all air. |
The question might be asked, why
should dairyman consider putting up
silage if he can grow a green crop
such as kale and feed it directly from
the field the year around? In very
few places in the Pacific Northwest |
would it be desirable or even possible |
to drive on the field every day in the
year. Tramping over the soil when it !
is soft Injuries the mechanical condi- |
ton of the soil, and it will take con-
siderable amount of labor to put it |
back into shape. AS soon as the win
ter rains come the fields should be left
alone. Then it is when silage can be
used to advantage
Considering the amount of labor as
well, there is a greater saving of labor
to have the hauling of the crop done
in few days by united effort of all
hands and teams, than by piecing it
out once day or once in two days as
would be necessary when practicing
the soiling system.
If dairy farmer has good siio, his
feeding problem becomes sisAple, his