The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-31
SILO IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS
STRATION IN CATTLE
FEEDING AT AMARILLO.
Some Timely Advice Regarding SiIos.
How and When to Fill
SiIos, Care, Etc.

Washington.--A special demonstra-
ton in cattle feeding in Amarillo,
Texas, has lead to the compilation OF
certain data, on how and when to fill
a silo, which should be of interest to
farmers in the Southwest. In Texas
there are undoubtedly many farmers
who are about to fill silos for the first
time this year and for such the fol-
lowing should be timely.
The proper time to eat this feed
for silage is when the seed are in the
stiff dough stage and the bottom
leaves begin to turn brown, for at
this stage the plant will have its
maximum nutritiye value and yet be
green enough to keep well in the silo.
When there is a large amount Of
feed to be cut, the work should be
done with row binder, this being
the most economical method In haul
ing the feed from the field to the
silo, a wagon with low-down bed is
much better than one with regular
hay frame, as the green bundles are
rather heavy to lift Use sufficient
wagons to haul feed as fast as cut.
1t should not be allowed to wilt or be-
come partly cured before putting into
the silo. 1t will not keep as well if
allowed to become dry
Silage should be cut into one-half
inch lengths, as it packs in much
closer than when left longer, thus
crowdin9 out the air, and the silage
keeps better The capacity of the
silo is also increased and there is less
waste in feeding, as all will be eaten.
The power required to run the
silage cutter, with blower attached, is
ordinarily figured at one horse power
for each inch of cutter.
One of the most, if not the most,
important part in filling silo is the
packing of the silage. The silage
must be packed we'll If it is to keep,
for this packing forces out the air
and the essential thing in making
silage is the exclusion of air. If all
spaces are left in the silo, large
amounts of silage will be lost. In a
silo II feet in diameter and with a
small cutter, use two or more men
In large silos and filling with large
cutters, keep three or more men IL
the silo and see that they tramp al
the time. Pack the edges next to the
wall; the middle will take care of 1t
self.
When the plants are green no watel
need be added in making silage, bu
If the silage has begun to dry or cure
in the field some water should be rul
into the silo. while being filled. Thi
is done to bring the moisture contents
of the silage nearer to it's natura
state, to make it pack down better
and help exclude the air. One SAT-
rule in this matter would be: If il
doubt, run in some water. Water vii
not hurt the silage if there is mo ea
/ cess, and every silo should have eithe
dirt floor or a dain, which will lie
any excess water escape.
AS six or more inches Of silage a
\ the top will spoil, it is sometimes &C
visable to cover the top with som
cheap or worthless material. A laye
of cut oat straw is sometimes run i
for a covering for the silage and we
down and we'll tramped This form
a seal and preserves all the feet
When feeding is begun, all of this to
layer should be thrown aside.
1t is advisable to tramp the top {
the silage every day for ten days c
two weeks after the silo is filled, q
this helps to force out the air an
tends to prevent the silage from Sc
! ting away from the wall