The Ordway new era., 1917-09-07
Dairy Farming
and Its Benefits
SLIDING

The advantages of SLIDING over
pasturage are SO great, especially
where dairying on high-priced land,
that every dairyman should care
fully study the question of adopting
this system. Much depends upon the
supply, character, and cost Of labor
at ones command. 1t may be profit
able to practice partial siloing when
not possible to do more. Careful
trials have shown that by feeding
cows wholly on green forage crops in
the stable from two to five times as
much milk can be produced from an
acres as from pasturing the same
land. OF course farms often contain
many acres of pasture that can not be
titled, but for tillable land the profit
in siloing is great. Many more cows
can be kept on given acre and the
productive capacity of the herd can
be rapidly increased. The saving OF
manure and it's application to best
advantage is one of the great gains
in siloing.
SnOfS FUN SlLOlNG
| For this system of feeding stock a
variety of green crops is necessary.
grown so as to come to best feeding
condition in well arranged succession
thruout the growing season. There
must be no breaks; the supply must
be certain and sufficient 1t is we'll
to aim to grow about twice as much
of every crop as one expects to use;
any surplus can be saved by drying or
putting in silo. Crops well adapted
to siloing in most parts of the coun-
try are these: red clover and timo-
thy, sown separately in July and Aug
ust; crimson clover and barley, sown
in August and September; and wheat
and rye, sown in September and Octo-
ber-all these for use in Gan open)
winter and early spring. Oats. spring
barley and peas sown early in the
spring; vetches, also corn and soy
beans, planted or sown in May; cow
peas, corn, millets, and Hungarian
grass. sown in June-these for cutt-
ing in the summer and fall. The first
and second crops from the regular
moving lands of grass and clover will
fill the gaps. .
| A good deal of skillful management
is needed to bring on the crops at the
right time in prope; succession and in
sufficient quantity. At least 10
pounds of green forage should be pro-
vided daily, on the average, for every
1000 pounds weight of COW; the
quantity will vary much with the
character of crop. By the siloing sys-
tenn, well managed, l acre may feed
two cows for five or six months, and
acres for five cows is a conserva-
tive estimate.
One of the points of gain by siloing
is saving the food expended by the
animal in its exertion to procure its
food at pasture. But moderate exer-
else should accompany siloing, and a
small pasture lot or large paddock
should be provided convenient to the
COW house for use of the herd, especi
ally at night.
| THE5STABLING SEASON
Change from pasture to stable
Up to a certain point fall pasturage
is as good as any other part of the
year. But after one or two hard
frosts it is we'll to offer the cows some
nice hay when they come in at night,
and If they eat it with relish, one may
be pretty certain the season has ar
rived to gradually change the herd
from pasture to stable for the winter.
The cows should not be left out at
night after it becomes chilly. or be
exposed to cold autumn storms. They
may be allowed in the fields a few
hours on all pleasant days until snow
flies, but without expecting them to
get much besides water and exercise
Before keeping them steadily at the
stable and yards the feeding should
be. by gradual steps, completely
changed to the full stable diet.
PREPARATION OF THE STABLE
Meanwhile, or on leisure days earl
Ter in the year, the COW house should
be prepared for its occupancy by the
herd thruout the stabling season.
Boxes. stalls, and feeding troughs or
floor should be thoroly cleaned and
disinfected, so that no animal can
discover or be subjected to any un-
pleasant traces of another and pre-
vious occupant of the place. Then as
sign every COW her particular place
for the winter. and gently insist upon
every one being always in the right
place. The bedding, absorbents, and
disinfectants should be provided in