The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-03-17

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of AgricuIture.)
Beet-tOp siIage is well suited for use
oy the dairyman or the feeder OF beef
cattie and sheep. When II is fed Tor
the production of beef or mutton, the
bay requirements may be reduced ~
ger cent. The warm. succulent Stage
seems to stimulate the appetites OF
The animals, causing them to consume
and utilize larger quantities OF feed.
Most beet growers estimate that Deet-
top siIage has a value about one-thiru
10 one-half that of alfalfa hay.
These points are discussed IN de-
tail in Farmers bulletin 1898. beet
Top Silage ard Other By-Produets OF
the Sugar Beet" which was recently
issued by the United States depart
ment of agriculture. This bulletin
advocates the use Of beet-top silage 10
aid In meeting the shortage OF hay
and other forage 1t illustrates good
methods of constructing pit silos and
gathering and SLIDING the tops. and
makes other important suggestions IN
" tCcuIIiS INV Siia6Cs
and pulp. tased largely upon reports
of beet growers and stock feeders.
Balanced Ration Recommended.
Beet pulp and moiasses by-prOducts
| which have an established value with
stock feeders, should be fed with a
moderate allowance of hay or other
! feed in order to make Il balanced
| catiOn," the bulletin says.
| AT the present price of beet mo
iasses many feeders are finding a
mixture Of molasses with hay or with
pulp to be profitable. This furnishes
u variety and stimulates appetite when
fed in regulated quantities.
In feeding beet-top silage, about x
pounds per 1850 pounds weight fol
cattle and pounds per head for sheer
each day seem to be most satisfactory
animals not accustomed to beet
top siiage should be given u small
quantity at first and the feelings grad
ually increased until the normal ra
ton is reached"
Other important points given in the
| Du1etIn IOllOW.
A good crop of beets will yield from
511a to tons of processed silage.
The average cost of gathering the
tops and filling. packing and finishin:
the silo is about 81 ton.
1t is extremely important that thu
tops be gathered and put into small
piles promptly after the beets ar,
topped. The dirt may be easil!
shaken from the tops while the leave.
are still fresh. 1t is imperative tina
sirt and sand be eliminated.
The fundamental factors that ar,
involved In making good corn silag'
also apply III making beet-top silage
Pack the mass thoroughly to exclud,
the free air and then seal tight. Goo.
silage requires thorough packing.
1t is not necessary 10 run the top
through silage cutter. Some feeder
prefer to do so however. to avoid tn
possibility of lambs choking on tn
crowns
The same structure that is common
ly used for putting up corn silage ma,
/ pe u>Cu ANA oSSS-tVP DCSa oS
beet tops pack in very dense mass
the structure will sometimes cracl
and spread and thus allow air to enter
A well-built silo is reasonably safe.
Making beet-top silage does not nee
essarily involve cash outlay for ina
terials. The natural earth silo an
stacking above the earth are both sue
cessful. Concrete side retaining wall
are advisable under certain conditions
however.
The natural earth silo will yield jus
as good results for beet-top silage a
the perpendicular structures, bu
greater care In packing is necessary.
An excellent quality of silage
made by stacking the tops entirel
above the earth and then packing ther
thoroughly. The spoilage loss is great
er than when the structure or the nj
silO Is used.
1t is not necessary to alternate Lay
ers Of tops With layers Of straw. II
always advisable to put layer o
straw next to the earth bottom An
sides to eliminate dirt from the siiag q
Silage is not a balanced ration.
should always be supplemented b
other feeds.
Silage is Il carbohydrate feed and ba
ances with alfalfa hay, which is ric
in protein.
The fermentins process In the sill
largely corrects the cathartic salts 1
beet tops.
The most profitable use is made Q
beet tops when they are sliced an
fed with alfalfa hay or other forag
and possibly supplemented with graf
or concentrate feeds.
Allows Fall Flowing.
Gathering beet tops from the feel
| and SLIDING them without undue della
1 hA h-,A~