The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-03-15
LIVE WIRE SPARKS


In these days of high priced grain
so many farmers have been inquiring
lately about silos and ensilage that
the Finley Grange has taken up silo
campaign which we hope will be of
some benefit to the lower valley.
For rough figuring there are two
materials in all feeds, always to be
figured with. These are the protiens
and carbohydrates. The proteins or
muscle building foods are compounds
containing nitrogen while the carbo-
hydrates or fat building foods are the
carbonaceous compounds. Both are
necessary elements in all feed and any
feed containing the proper proper
tions Of each may be called balanced
ration. The proportions required vary
with different kinds of stock and with
different individuals of the same class.
For example, dry cow or steer re-
quires a ration containing about one
part Of protein to ten parts of carbo-
hydrates. A cow in milk requires more
protein, the ratio running about one
part of protein to seven or eight parts
Of carbohydrates for cow in good
average flow. y
In most localities protein is the ex-
pensive nutrient to buy and the car
bohydrates are easily obtained from
many sources, for most grain and root
crops contain from ten to twenty-five
times as much carbohydrates as pro-
tein. Here, however, where alfalfa is
our main feeding crop, we find the re-
verse to be true, for the ratio of pro-
tein to carbohydrates in alfalfa is
about one to four. We, therefore, find
the dairyman who is feeding straight
alfalfa is feeding twice as much of
the expensive protein as is necessary
in order to get enough Of the cheaper
carbohydrates, and the excess protein
fed, after the body has been stimulated
all it can, is largely waste. The care
full dairyman will, therefore, look
around for some feed rich in carbohy-
drates in order that he can cut down
his alfalfa, and with it the suplus pro-
tein, and still supply the nutrients de-
sired. Undoubtedly the cheapest car
bohydrates in the country are to be
found in corn silage. This is the
cheapest form not only because it is
very rich in carbohydrates but also
because we can raise enormous guam
titles per acre. The ratio Of protein
to carbohydrates in corn silage is just
about one to sixteen. Besides furnish
ing the much needed carbohydrates,
corn silage has the additional advan-
tages Of providing variety, and suc-
culence, and of being very easily di-
gested, and this amounts to great
deal, local dairymen claiming an in
crease of from ten per cent to thirty
per cent in their butter fat yield by
feeding silage. Silage feeding has
been tested out so thoroly locally, and
silage feeders are unanimously so en-
thusiastic over the results that there
are no longer any who dispute the adj
vantage Of the silo. Everyone who
feeds half dozen cows or more
should have one.
Doubtless many have not built be-
cause they felt that they could not af-
ford the initial cost. The Finley
Grange has appointed a committee to
help the local farmers get the money
or liberal terms for the purpose Of
building silos and anyone contemplate
ing building one and needing financial
assistance would do well to take the
matter up with the Grange at once.
"In the spring a young mans fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love" The
fellow who wrote those lines never