The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-08-18
URGED
TO BUILD SIL0S
SIagc More Valuable As MIX Produc-
er Than More Concentrated
and Expensive Feeds.
CAN BE USED THROUGHOUT YEAR
Dairymen Can Use Silagc So Az to
Take the Place Of Pasture Dur
ina Hot Summer Months.

Due to the exceedingly wet season
there will undoubtedly be a great deal
of immature corn this year. The silo
is source of saving this crop and
should be included among the build
ings on every Iowa farm
We find by analysis that over SO per
cent of the food value is in the stalk
and leaf. If only the ears are gathered
we are securing but half the value Of
our crop. In other words, If the farm
er has so acres of corn worth $4,000
per acre, for the ear alone he secures
$1,000 worth of grain or so per cent
of the crop. He leaves the other 40
per cent or $666 worth in the field. OF
course it would be impossible for all
of the corn to be placed in the silo,
but if only Is per cent was made into
ensilage it would mean a great deal
to the farmers of the United States.
Again, if we compare the value Of
silage and corn stover, we find that the
latter is only one-half as good as the
former. The stalk and leaves are pre-
served in the fodder. but it is seldom
that animals will eat the stalk. 1t
becomes dry and brittle and is not
palatable, especially to milk cows. by
doubling the feeding value OF the corn
plant, we are enabled to double the
number of animals which can be fed
from that crop.
Silage as milk producer compares
very favorably to the other more con-
centrated and more expensive feeds.
1t is very palatable, succulent food
and can we'll be called the substitute
for pasture. We are all aware OF the
increase of milk flow when cows are
turned to pasture in the spring, after
receiving nothing but dry feeds for six
months. The milk COW is a sensitive
animal at hard work and therefore
should be provided with the best food
possible. The succulence furnished
by silagc acts as a spur to the appe-
tite of the COW and causes her to rel
ish her food in winter as we'll as in
summer.
At the Ohio station several years
ago the substitution of silage for grain
in the ration proved very successful
Silage was used to take the place OF
over half the grain and proved much
cheaper. The silage ration produced
milk for 6S cents per 100 pounds and
butter fat at the rate of IL cents per
pound. The grain ration produced
milk at $1.O5 per hundred and butter
fat for % cents per pound. This made
the profit per month with the silage
fed 1856 and those of the grain fed
S2.46, tor more than doubled the in
come per, COW. If the same method
of feeding was applied on the farm.
undoubtedly the same results could be
obtained.
For many summers. previous to this
one, the pastures have been very poor
owing to dry weather in July and
August. At this season the milk flow
drops and is difficult to be restored.
The dairymen should have something
to take the place of grass at this time
and the use of soiling crops or silage
is the only substitute. Soiling crops
are good, but as rule require too
much labor. They must be cut every
day and hauled to the cows. Besides
there is necessarily great loss in
being obliged to feed the crops before
they fully mature and after they are
over ripe.
Chas. L. Hill, of Guernsey fame
says that he feeds silage 365 days in
the year and he furthermore advises
that his COWS eat their. silage with rel
ish even when they are supplied with
rich pasture grass.