La Junta tribune., 1917-09-13
MORE smos ONLY SALVATION
Live stock situation Is Serious and
Meat will he ~ Pound Tn.
less Something l. Done

vi tue StaAF
has sent out a circular letter to all
the bankers OF the state. calling
their attention TO the fact that a SER
ious situation confronts the live
stock industry and requesting their
cooperation and assistance in in
creasing the number OF silos in Colo
rado as the only effective means to
increase the capacity OF farms to
carry live stock. The situation is
said TO be even more serious than
the letter below indlcates--
The livestock situation OF the
world is alarmingly serious. The
foreign countries AT war are being
rapidly depleted or their livestock
and the remaining numbers are not
giving satisfactory returns because
of the scarcity OF animal foods. In
this country there Is reason for
alarm and determined efforts to
check depletion OF our livestock. Our
stockmen for some time have not
had much encouragement. Prices
have been so low that they have not
been sufficiently rewarded for their
labor and expense and the result is
that many farmers have gone out
OF the livestock business. Last win
ter and spring was the worst for
many years In some localities, en-
tire herds and flOcks were wiped
out The lambs. calves and pigs
that we're born last Spring have suf-
fered enormous losses because OF the
weakened condition OF their mothers.
High prices fon animal food stuffs
have caused many herds TO be dis
persed and they have caused prema
mature marketing OF hogs and sheep.
A large number Of dairles have been
closed and our breeding stock is be
ing seriously depleted. This means
that In a short time the United
States will suffer for the need OF all
animal products, meat, milk, wool,
butter. cheese and leather Before
the war closes meat on foot will be
worth 81 90 a pound unless steps are
taken TO check the terrible deple-
tion that now threatens the livestock
industry in the world
Because Of certain uniayorable cli-
matte and soil conditions, the in
crease in the United States must
come largely from the irrigated sec
uons OF the west and that means
that Colorado must do her share.
Conditions in our own state also give
cause for alarm.
This must come through the use
OF the silo We produce great deal
OF feed that is well suited to horses.
cattle. sheep, and TO certain eN-
tent to hogs that is allowed to go
to waste Most OF this feed Is left
In the field to deteriorate or is
burned or plowed under the next
spring. This feed Is the blades and
stalks OF corn and Il contains one
third OF the total food value OF the
plant. The nutrients Of the stalk
and leaves are 10 bound to together
by indircstible. unpalatable fiber
that II l. impossible to secure their
full value In the form OF stoyer b.
putting the corn In the silo II under
goes process OF fermentation that
renders Il more palatable so that the
entire plant is eaten with n relish
This feed increases the appetite, pro
notes the digestion Of other food 4,
increases production and decreases
the cost.
The total number OF silos In the
state Is sufficient for only n small
part of the farms Every farm viii
not secure siln this year. every
acre Of corn VIII not 90 into the
siln. hut an Increase Of 5000 silos
this year would increase the food
supply a quarter OF a million tons
which would save lot Of livestock
next winter,
silaFe saves grain increases tho
value OF the foods with which II Is
fed gives maximum production and
reduces the cost
Beef cattle can be carried through
the winter cheaply on sllage and
straw and lot OF grain can be-
saved Sheep viii do eNcellontly on
just silage and hay Little or no grain
IL needed
The dairyman by all means should
feed silaTe. as Il will nearly double
his profits.
The grain saved by the use OF sill
age can be used for human oonsump-
tion or be fed TO hogs and the sup
ply OF pork greatly increased. A silo
on the farm greatly Increases tn.
rapaeity OF that farm to carry live