The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-07-27
hf[Dlll6 CORN nlSllAG


be termed grass like" For this rea-
son it can be used very much as pas
ture in the feeding of domestic ami |
mails The analysis of good corn en-
silage, however, will show that 1t Is
richer than a great many of the pas
ture grasses and therefore will 20 far
Their in feeding.
AS soon as the silo is filled the
feeding operation may start and
though 1t be in the heating process,
| it will be just as good food and will
be relished by the animals quite as
much as old silage. 1t is generally
conceded, however, that silage which
| is several months old Is better than
newer silage Some feeders prefer
silage that is six months to year old.
However, it may be safely said that
si]age can be fed from the time the
| blower pipe is taken out of the sllo
until the feeder desires to open his
silo and this may be after it has stood
for several years.
Silage is strong in carbohydrates,
the principal food requirement for all
animals, but needs protein to balance
it. Alfalfa hay Is perhaps the cheap
est and best for this purpose. Through
out the alfalfa belt it should form part
of the ration where silage is used.
This is not necessary, but simply
. makes it possible for the feeder to
gain a greater economy in his opera
tions and at the same time give the
animal wholesome, balanced ration.
Corn silage may be fed out of doors
in hunks, in the stall, or in fact any
place where animals can cat it without
waste. In very severe weather 1t is
best to feed silage inside, as some will
freeze and this will be hard for the
stock to masticate. although the feed
er need not be alarmed over feeding
freezing ensilage. 1t will not in1ure
the animals, but frozen food is not
easy for them to consume.
In feeding mich cows it is very
good plan to give the hay in rack out.
side or some place where the animals
will not waste it, and feed the ensilagt
in the barn after milking. 1t may be
given twice a day in ratiOns from
no to Is pounds at feeding or Il
to 80 pounds per day. Some large an
imals will take as high as 40 to 81
pounds of silage per day and MAKE
good use of it, In feeding fattenint
| ock or steers, silage may be fet
twice day in smaller ratiOns rang
ing from 10 to Is pounds at feed TO
grown stock and for young animal
from to IL pounds Sheep will con
sumo from 2 to 4 pounds daily; hog
liz to pounds daily and horses from
ia to IL pounds when not working. l
J Is not advisable to feed work horse
: large quantities of silage no NOR
than to give them large quantities 0
! new grass.
III Feed the ensilage so that the ami
mails will eat it up clean as it spoil
| or freezes when exposed to the al
for several days.
When to Cut.
1t has been found by experience
that corn, fairly well matured, make
better ensilage than corn which
quite green A good time to cut cor
| for the silo is when the bottom leave
begin to fire and the corn is in tn
/ early dent stage. 1t is well to knol
| however, that corn may be cut at a
most any stage for ensilage, and eve
after it has frosted it can still b
put in and will, come out good silag'
Corn EnsiIage With Alfalfa
In a country where corn and alfalf
can be grown the silo is logical an
extremely profitable equipment, fo
no food is of greater value for ec(
nomic milk and beef production tina
the combination of these two splendi
feeds AS the value of corn ensilae
3 fully 81 per ton and it costs les
= than 81 to produce it, the feeder car
not afford to be without a silo. A
the experiment station has demon
strated silo will pay for itself ever
year, and where labor is difficult
obtain it will make possible the grow
ing of stock where now it is out I
the question.
Ensilage From Other Plants
While corn is the general crop Il
silage, there are many other plan
which can be used for filling the sill
Alfalfa has been thoroughly tested O
and found to be valuable plant Il
making silage 1t often occurs tn
the first cutting of alfalfa Is practice
ly spoiled for hay, owing to the fr
quent rains at the season when 1t
put up Thefirst cutting can thereto
be saved by putting 1t in the silo, al
. as the hay can go in green or wet
- may be put up even during raj
storm. Sweet corn makes splendid
lage and owing to it's heavy yield it
favorite plant for this use.
good, rich ground sweet corn will
ten yield fifteen to eighteen tons :
acre. Oats and field peas, wheat, 81
ghum, kaffir corn, milo maize a
millet may be all put in the silo W
success.