Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-08-13
SILAGE HAS ADVANTAGES.
Many SilOs Being Constructed
Throughout the Country,
But Many More
Should BE.


silos being constructed this year
there are not nearly as many as
there should be- Iowa has a larger
acreage of corn now growing within
her borders than any other state in
the Union. The most recent crop re-
port shows that the stand and devel-
opment is above normal in spite of
the cold, wet weather in May, which
greatly delayed planting.
After producing this enormous
crop of the worlds greatest cereal
We should make the best possible use
of it. When the ear only is fed
practical experients show that over
half of the feeding value of the
corn plant is lost To fully realize
the loss incurred by allowing the
corn stalks to remain in the field,
one need but ride through the corn
! belt during December or January.
Mile after mile of dry stalk fields are
passed. Here and there the cattle
are browsing in the fields, eating the
Inubbins, the shucks and the leaves,
but allowing the stalks to remain
untouched. OF course a large pro-
portion of the cornstalks will always
be wasted, but if a silo were con-
structed on each farm and only ten
Of CT
lage, over S60,000,000 worth of
! feed would be saved annually.
Silage furnishes an excellent feed
for all classes of live stock. While
| it is by means a balanced ratior
and must be fed in conjunction with
other feeds. yet it has distinct ad-
vantages which cannot be secured
in the use Of other crops grown on
the average farm.
Silage greatly reduces the cost of
feed. 1t has been found that under
ordinary conditions hundred
pounds of milk can be produced for
C0c when ensilage is used, while the
same quantity without the silo costs
S1.03. The cost of producing a
pound of butterfat has been reduced
from 22c to 13c, difference of sc |
in favor of ensilage. This saving
alone is enough to make the dairy
profitable instead of losing pro-
position as is in many instances.
All of the feeds which the dairy
cow and other stock receive during
six months Of the year are dry.
When fed the dry grains, hays and
folders day after day the stock ma
turally tire of them and the milk
cow especially loses her appetite. ST.
lage which is the nearest substitute
we have for pasture grass, supplies
the green, succulent, appetizing eff
feet during the winter and keeps
the animals in good condition
throughout the year.
Again, corn placed In the silo is
very convenient to feed, and as it
packs easily large quantity OF feed ,
IAN be stored in a small space. When
he silo is located near the barn for
y head of cattle can be fed in half
lour. Silage enough to last herd
If forty cattle all winter may be 4
placed in a silo 16 feet in diameter
md "a feet high.
If properly handled small guam
ity of silage may be kept over and
ed during the summer drouths, +
which will materially aid in keeping
Up the milk flow. We often hear F
hat silage will injure stock, that it
will faint milk, etc. These troubles :
ire not due to the ensilage, but are
aused by careless feeding.
Ensilage besides having the ad
yantages mentioned enables us to V
,eep more stock on small farm,
therefore, producing more manure to
,uild up the land, which is the duty =,
# every Iowa farmer.