The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-16
THAT S|LO
AND Be PREPARED
LARGE VARIETY OF SllAGE
CROPS ADAPTED TO
OKLAHOMA.
SORGHUM SURER THAN CORN
eiIage Comes Nearest 70 Furnishing
Pasture Substitute Of Any Feed.
Yield 10 Large and Cost
10 Small.
SORGHUM SURER THAN CORN

SaSkc' ~ vi shV |
possibilities Of silage crops for Okla.
homa was prepared by Prof. NJ. A.
Beeson OF the department Of agronomy
Of Oklahoma Agricultural and Me.
chanical College 1T saltwater:
Livestock farmers In general recog-
nice the necessity Of silage. Mix cows
give more milk at . lower cost where
silage comprises a large part Of the
ration. Beef cattle respond we'll to a
properly balanced silage ration and q
majority Of the cattle marketed from
the corn belt have been silage fed.
Other livestock also eat silage to ad.
vantage although the benefits are not
SO great.
AFTER all, the most important ques-
ton is. does silage payf II has paid
in most instances where II has been
tried and in cases where It has not
proven profitable. It was probably
through no fault Of the silage. The
advantages Of silage are many. II In.
sures q crop Of desirable roughage
and gives a large yield per acre at a
comparatively low cost per ton. In
sections affected by drouth. It saves a
large per cent Of the corn crop that
would otherwise be wasted, In the
form of stalks and fodder. Il IL eco
nomical to store, as about half Of the
space ia required that is required to
store hay. Silage Is palatable and will
keep the stock in a thrifty condition.
In where the drouth destroys
the pasture 1t furnishes q succulent
food during these seasons. A larger
number OF cattle can be kept on the
same acreage Of land than may be
kept on forage crops cut for hay.
1.-The principal crops for silage in
Oklahoma, are corn. grain sorghums
and cane or saccharin sorghums.
There Is very little difference in the
feeding value Of corn. grain sorghums
and cane silage. Therefore. the n
should be grown which gives the larg.
est yield per acre in that particular
section. Where corn does we'll. AZ a
rule II Is advisable to grow 1t in pref
erence to the sorghums for . silage
crop.
ION the rich bottom land in the
eastern half Of Oklahoma, corn 10 the
best crop for silage. On poor upland
underlaid with hardpan. corn cannot
be depended upon and should not be
planted. II does not pay to grow corn
on poor land even for silage, Corn
should be limited to the same area
for silage production MS for grain pro.
duction. When growing corn for sill.
age, the land should be titled the same
way as when grown for grain. Some
advocate thick planting when the crop
is to be used for silage. Where there
Is an abundance of rainfall. II may be
planted thickly. but where water Is
the limiting factor 1t will seldom pay
to plant corn any thicker for silage
production than for grain production.
THE feeding value of silage will de-
pend to a large extent on the amount
Of grain present. The best silage will
be produced from corn when II Is cut
at the time the kernels are we'll denied
and glazed.
"In the western half OF the state,
kafr and cane are the best silage
crops, since they stand the drouth
much better than corn. Kafir will no
doubt make the best silage of any OF
the grain %sorghums and 1t should be
handled In the same way for silage
production as for grain, production,
The grain should be practically ma.
ture before putting II in the silo and
II the stalks are a little dry, some
water should be added as the silo Is
being filled.
"Cane gives, a very high yield Of
green material for silage and the quail
ity Of silage produced from cane is
satisfactory. One valuable character
istic of cane and grain sorghums fol
silage purposes is that they remain
green even after maturity. This keeps
the plant In a good condition to pu'
In the silo and gives a longer period
for harvesting. Texas Ribbon cane Il
one Of the largest late varieties ant
is a. heavy yielder. Sumac ant
Orange cane have also proved valu
able for silage purposes in this state
"Corn and cane or kafr and zane o
about equal parts make a good silage
However, when growing two diferen
crops for silage they should be plante,
o that they will mature for silage a
me same time, since they should b.
mixed as the silo is being filled.
"The siiage crops are very heav,
md should be planted as near the sill
IS possible in order to saw distanc
n hauling.
"Silage has passed the experiments
tage and can be considered as on
Z the necessities Of modern agricu
IRE where there is sufficient stock o
he farm to demand It."
Farmers who have no silos shout
.fva sarious confederation IN the Drol