The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-03-27
Plan to Build . SiIo.

AZ present CONCERNING luh HAfhht'
ages OF the silo for the stockman
or dairyman here in southern Ida
no and the indications are that
several siIos will be erected this
year near Boise. Undoubtedly
the clio ID d money saver and 81
money maker, and the farmer who
hiss stock may well consider the
many advantages OF ensilage.
Where the use Of silage in stock
feeding has become quite general
40 In the stock feeding and dairy
districts Of eastern states the farm
ers would not think of going back
to the old methods Of feeding,
says Prof, II. w. Hochbaum In
the Boise Statesman.
In the first place 80 or 40 per
cent Of the corn crop which would
otherwise be wasted, 10 saved. AS
ono farmer put it, II save every
thing from. the ground up to the
tassel.' Where silage 10 fed, less
hay ID needed, and this saving 10
considerable, from one-third to
one.half. Silage is cheaper
roughage, too. One Missouri
farmer testified that Is acres Of
corn as silage and 10 acres Of hay
took the place OF 40 acres Of hay,
OF 1876 farmers asked whether sil-
age saved feed, l94 answered" yes;"
two answered II do not know
We need ailage here TO supple
ment our excellent alfalfa hay.
When alfalfa hay alone 10 fed it
cannot be expected to economical
~ supply ali the needs Of either
the dairy COW or the beef steer.
Alfalfa 10 not balanced ration by
stself. 1t contains too small a
portion OF fat and heat forming
food elements. These are found
In corn silage and alfalfa hay
comes nearer satisfying the ami
malls needs and at cheaper cost.
Corn silage costs from $3.50 to
VA a ton in the silo.
Withal, corn silage is a pslat.
able, juicy ration and serves tc
soacnpy the same place in winter
that paaturage does in summer
A anccnlent ration 10 a profitable
one Furthermore, ensilage inn
proves the appetite, since it acts
as a tonic. stimulates digestion
and in large measure prevents
digeative troubles. IL ID claimed
that dairy cows which are fed on
silage are less liable to suffer from
milk and garget. For the dairy
COW, silage is a great stimulator Of
milk, increasing the flow OF milk
and tending to make cows give
milk longer through the season.
While we have long known tbs
advantages of silage for dairy
COWS, OF late it is being more ane
more recommended for Other
stock. In an experiment conduct
ed in Indiana with steers it was
Eonnd that the addition of silage
once 4 day to ration Of corn, cot
tonsaed aaeal and clover hay, re,
Sdnced the cost of gains $l.S3 per
hnndred pounds, and increased
the total profit $3.50 per steer
When fed twice a day with the
same ration it reduced the cost Of
gains $3.17 per hundred pounds
and increased the total profits
sl1.19 per steer. Good results
have also been obtained in feeding
silage to lambs and ewes.
Many dsirymen and stockmer
grow enthusiastic about silage
The following are typical replies
to QUESTIONABLE sent to lows
farmers in Missouri who fed
silage:
"One man can feed 100 head Of
cafs4a in three hours. Without
silags il would take two men the
greater Rsrt Of the day.
Cattle 90 through winter in
better condition. my cows give
one-thizd more milk. Rke feed il
stored next to the stable whsss i
l-..-.-.z H.. Il. FL m. p