The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-04-30
USING SILACE FOR
DAIRY COWS

tBy Prof. A. 3. Nystrom, head
OF division of dairying. State College
Of Washington.
Dairymen everywhere recognize
the importance Of feeding their cows
some sort of succulence all the year
round. If it isn't pasture, ii is
some soiling crop, roots or silage. AZ
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 digestible nntriments is con-
cerned. and by that is meant that a
pound of digestible 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 pre-
served successfully in the silo. Silo-
ing il one way, and practically the
only way of preserving all the feed
ing value of any green crop until
such time rs it may be fed 20 the
greatest advantage.
In curing a crop of hay about 80
to SO per cent of the food value Us
lost, the exact amount lost depend
ing upon the method Of curing, and
the amount of teaching that has TAX
en- place II a 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 probab-
ly remain so in the localities where
1t grows we'll. While Washington
and the neigh boring states are not
considered corn producing states
nevert eless there are places mere
and there where excessively large
crops of corn can be raised. and in
almost every locality small crops can
be grown.
Corn for silage should be planted
a little thicker than for grain. A
good ear is desira Bile in some cases,
but We should not sacrifice the a.
mount of succulence in trying 10 get
a large grain crop. If we can get
considers BILE higher yield of succui-
ent feed by planting it thicker II
will, of course, mean more profit 10
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 Often times mistake OF
cutting too green is made, and in
yaria bly, the result is sour silage. IL
no ear is formed the corn should be
cut when two or three of the bot
tom leaves have dried completely arc
the butt of the stalks is fairly yard
In the case of the frosting of the
corn, make it point to put it into
the silo before it has time to dry
and if it gets so dry that it cannot
be packed evenly, pour in water rs
it goes into the silo. and there will
be no trouble with moldy silaSe.
! In places where corn will not do
we'll, almost any of the legnmes ran
be used to advantage in the silo. AL
falfa if cut when the blossoms are
about half or more ont, will make
excellent silage. In other loca
clover will prove to be the best si'age
crop. All legumes should be allow
ed 10 wilt a trifle before being put
away. The reason for this is that
the high protein content together
with the high moisture content will
produce sour silsge. but if the
crop Is wilted somewhat it will be
preserved with the proper amount of
acidiy. 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 soar silage IS
not so great. bnt the danger of hav-
ing moldy silage is increased from
the fact that the preesnce Of the hol
low stem grain inca SEES considera Bile
air which is conducive to mold fer
mentation. Such mixed crops shoul
be we'll cut. and firmly tramped to
exclude all air.
The question might be asked, why
should q dairyman consider putting
up sila ee il he can grow green
crop such as kale and feed it direct
ly 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 il is soft Injuries
the mechanical condition of the soil.
and it will take considerable a
mount of labor to put il back into
shape. AS soon rs the winter rains
come the fields should be left alone.
Then it is when silage can be used
TO advantage.
Considering the amount of labor
as we'll. there is a greater saving of
Dor 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 a day or once
in two days as would be necessary
when practicing the soiling system.
If dairy farmer has good silo,
his feeding problem becomes simple,
his succulent feed is provided for,
part of his grain ration can be dis
pensed with, and considerably less
quantity of costly hay needs to be