The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-05-04
HIGHLAND DEPT.
DAIRYMEN STUDY
TYPES OF SLO
Farmers Learn Many Interesting
Things About Cutting and
Feeding Ensilage

Thirty dairymen of Richland and
kennewick took advantage of the ex-
cursion thru the district Tuesday to
examine the different types of silos
and get much information as to the
advantages of silo on the farm as
could be obtained in the short time
available. County Agriculturalist L.
M. Lampson and Sam Ross, of Rich
land, had the affair in hand and were
ably assisted by Profs. Price and Lash
brook of the state college.
Stops were made at the Abbott
ranch south of town where the visit
ors were given every advantage to
make an examination. From there
across the road to the Price ranch and
from there to the F. A. Howes ranch
where an entirely different type was
illustrated and short lecture deliv-
cred on its merits by the men from
the college. At noon lunch was SER
we'd to the excursionists in Anon hall
by the Ladies' Aid of the Christian
church and afterward Prof. Price gave
a most entertaining talk on the best
methods of filling and feeding from a
silo.
One point was especially empha-
sized and that was the necessity of
preventing the ensilage from becom-
ing nodded by either filling, packing
or by leaks in the sides of the silo due
to shrinkage or improper construction.
Also Prof. Price urged the dairymen
to be sure to pack the ensilage down
firmly at the sides as well as in the
middle as this is usually thing they
overlook and which will surely cause
mold to form. In filling the silo it
was recommended that if in doubt as
to whether there was enough moisture
in the crop being placed in the silo,
that it was always best to err on the
safe side and add water as it is abb
solutely necessary that there be suf-
ficient moisture in order that the feed
may keep in the proper manner. In
regard to the amount of silage which
should be fed each day. Prof. Price
stated that this varied with the
amount Of grain given the herd but
as general thing was about 40
pounds, altho it sometimes went down
to 80 and often reached 20 or 80 a
day. It is very important matter,
according to authorities on this sub
ject, that at least two inches be fed
each day from the top layer in the
silo, as only by so doing can the en-
silage be fed quickly and uniformly
enough to prevent molding and great
loss. Prof. Price, on this account,
recommended the use of two small
silos for large herd of cattle rather
than one large silo.
AS to when the grain was in its
best state to place in the silo it seems
to be the opinion of the best author
tiles that corn should be cut and put
in when the grain is in the soft
dough stage and that the length to
which it should be cut should not ex
coed one-half inch, while many pre-
fer one-quarter inch, finding that there
is less waste when cut short. Small
grains, such as wheat, etc., should be
placed in the silo earlier in their de-
velopment stage than is the corn.
A great many questions were asked
by the different farmers in attendance
everyone showing great deal OF in
terest in the subject and as there were
number of dairymen present who
expect to build silos in Richland next
fall, considerable valuable information
was obtained from the excursion.
Prof. Lashbrook gave very in
teresting lecture on the various types
of silos, showing where one had the
advantage over the other for different
classes of farms and districts and at
ter his talk was completed the excur-
sion was resumed to the F. A. Frier-
mood ranch, the Wienenga ranch, the
G. L. Dietrich ranch and the Young
place. In all five distinct types of
silos were given minute inspection by
the farmers and each man who was
lucky enough to be along with the
bunch states that the time was GER
tainly well spent. That the future OF
the Richland district depends on its
dairy herds to a great extent is con-
coded by everyone and it is only by
the introduction Of silos from which
green feed may be obtained in the
winter months that the best can ever
be secured from cattle of any breed
Sam Ross, one of the most promi-
nent dairymen in the Richland dis