Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-26
IE I0P S|uGE
WELL SUITED FOR
USE Of Dl|RYMEN
Reduction Hay Requirements
50 Per Gent Possible. Ac-
cording to Official. Farmers
Bulletin.

Beet top silage 10 we'll suited for use
by the dairyrlan OF the feeder of beef
cattle and sheep. When It 10 fed for
the production of beef or mutton, the
hay rsquirements may be reduced 50
Dor cent. Tho warm, succulent silage
seems to stimulate the appetites of the
animals, causing them to consume and
utilize larger quantities Of feed. Most
beef growers estimate that beot-top
= silago has q value about one-third to
one half that Of alfalfa hay.
These points are discussed in detail
IN Farmers bulletin 1895. "Beet-Top
Silage and Other By-products Of the
Sugar Beet" which was recently is
sued by the United States department
OF Agriculture. This bulletin advo-
Gates the use Of beet-top silage to aid
in meeting the shortage of hay and
other forage. It illustrates good meth
DDS Of constructing pit silos and gath
ering and SLIDING the tops, and makes
other important suggestions in regard
to feeding the silage, molasses, and
pulp. based largely upon reports of
beet growers and stock feeders.
BALANCED RATION.
'Beet pulp and molasses. by-prod-
ucts which have an established value
with stock feeders, should be fed with
a moderate allowance OF hay or other
Feed IN OrQer 10 MAKE paidHSco ia
ton" the bulletin says.
"At the present price OF beet molass-
"a many feeders are finding mixture
of molasses with hay or with pulp to
be profitab BILE. This furnishes variety
and stimulates appetite when fed in
regulated quantities.
.In feeding beet-top silage, about
30 pounds per 1000 pounds weight for
cattle and pounds per head for sheep
each day seem to be most satisfac-
tory.
animals not accustomed to beet-top
siIage should be given a small quantity
at first and the feelings gradually in
creased until the normal ration is
reached"
Other important points given in the
bulletin follow:
BEET YIELD.
A good crop of beets will yield from
3ls to tons of processed silage.
The average cost of gathering the
tops and filling, packing and finishing
the silo Is about 81 a ton.
It liz extremely important that the
tops be gathered and put into small
plies promptly after the beets are
topped. The dirt may be easily sha-
ken from the tops while the leaves are
stili fresh. IT is imperative that dirt
and sand be eliminated.
The Fundamental factors that are in
volved in making good corn silage also
apply in making beet-top silage. Pack
the mass thoroughly to exclude the
free air and then seal tight. Good ST.
lage requires thorough packing.
IT Is not necessary to run the tops
through silage cutter Some feeders
prefer to do so, however. TO avoid the
possibility of lambs choking on the
crowns.
The same structure that is common
ly used for putting up corn silage may
he used for beet top silage. Because
beet tops pack in very dense mass
the structure will sometimes crack and
spread and thus allow air to enter A
"ell-built sllo is reasonably safe,
SiIAGE Is CHEAP.
Making beet-top silage does not nee
essarily involve cash outlay for ma
terials. The natural earth silo and
stacking above the earth are both sue
cessful. Concrete side retaining walls
are advisable under certain conditions
however.
The natural earth silo will yield Just
as good results for best top silage as
the perpendicular structures, but
greater care in packing is necessary.
An excellent quality of silage is made
by stacking the tops entirely above
'"S eai vi anu tlen packing them thor
oughly The spolage loss Is greater
than when the structure or the Dit silo
Is used
1t Is not necessary TO alternate Law
ers OF tops with layers of straw. IL
IS always advisable to put a LAYER of
straw next to the earth bottom and
sides to eliminate dirt from the silare
When straw is intermixed with the
tops more packing is necessary.
Silage IL not a balanced ration. IL
should always be supplemented by
other feeds.
BALANCES HAY.
Silage is carbohydrate feed and
balances with alfalfa hay, which is rich
In protein.
The fermenting process in the silo
largely corrects the cathartic salts In
beet tops.
The most profitable use Is made OF
beet tops when they are sliced and
fed with alfalfa hay or other forage
and possibly supplemented with grair
or concentrate feeds.
ALLOWS FALL FLOWING.
Gathering beet tops from the field
and SLIDING them without undue della,
allows fall blowing to be done befor,
freezing weather interferes Fall pillow.