The Dickinson press., 1914-04-18
THE S[LAGB RED CATTLE
SHOW A HANDSOME GAIN

One of the biggest farm problems
along stock raising lines in this
country was brought to a successful
termination this week when w. J.
Motley turned over the 81 head of
steers which he had been feeding for
Berringer Bros. during the winter.
The steers were taken about the mid
die of November and fed throughout
the winter on corn silage, hay, barley
and oat straw. Although this is the
first feeding of this kind ever tried in
this locality, it, nevertheless, shows
in striking manner what can be
done with corn in Western North Da-
kota. It also shows what silage will
do for ordinary beef cattle.
The steers were just good aver
age bunch of native and 3-year-olds.
The total weight when taken was
25,273 pounds, or an average of 936
pounds per steer. It took about a
week to get them all well started. At
first some took right to the silage
and ate it ravenously, while others
would smell Of it but would not eat
much. By the end Of the first week
all were just crazy for the feed.
About 40 pounds Of silage per day
was fed to each steer. The rest Of
the ration was hay, barley and oat
straw. The silage was fed morning
and evening and the hay and straw
fodder through the day. The cattle
cleaned up the silage without any
waste. -
By the middle of March the cattle
were in the best of condition.
When they were weighed out the
total weight was 32,7s9 pounds, a
gain of 1876 pounds, or an average
of 278 pounds per head.
MIR. Motley received TIC per
pound, or about 1868 from Berringer
Bros. for feeding the 27 head Of
steers for 5 months This is equiva-
lent to about s1Ac per pound in st.
Paul when freight and shrinkage are
taken into account.
Berringer Bros. are now putting
the silage fed beef cattle on the
block at their market at the rate Of
about one per day, giving patrons of
their place as good meat as can be
found any where in the east.
w. j.. Motley had about so acres in
corn last year, about half Of which
was used in his 1O0-ton silo. This
season he expects to plant 10 acres of
corn, which should provide fodder
sufficient for at least two silos.
The Motley silo was the first erect
ed in Stark county. It is made Of
concrete; IA #. in diameter and 80
#. high. The raw material costs
about $3.50 and the work Of construc-
ton required two weeks.
Speaking Of silage, Mr.. Motley
said: "Every farmer should sell his
best horse if necessary and build
silo. The silo is a money-maker for
any farmer. We feed silage to the
hogs and chickens. The coarse part
that they do not eat, the cattle will
pick up clean. Yes,I even feed sill
age to my yearling colts. and the
horses are given a little as a tonic"
Mr.. Motley says the feeding Of the
Berringer cattle has been a great
revelation to him., He intends to
build another silo this season and a
barn, which will enable him to care
for so steers, besides his other
stock, very nicely.
The PRESS is glad to give the
Motley siiage experience to our
readers, as it means a great deal to
the country. Every person who Wis
tied the Motley feed grounds during
the winter, were very j. enthusiastic
over silage. A number of farmers
were heard to say that they would
erect silos this year. ', -. ......s..
There is no question that the silo
means general success on the farm in
this country. 5ie