The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1920-02-21
BUSINESS REASONS
FOR SILOS ON
OUR FARMS
(By Carl Norgrenl


ton and oratory than any other of late
years, is the silo. Many writer's AMI
most conversationalists proclaim from
the house-tops the wonders of the silo
Wonderful" they say. "Fine!"
WhyH Because" their statements
sound many times like woman's do
nestle manifesto perfectly sure that
they are right but as to the exact ma
ture of their "rightness' they are not
so sure.
In this brief article it will not be
possible to go into the many results
which may be expected from the pro.
per use of the silo. We will endeavor
merely to call attention to few of the
outstanding reasons why silo is
good investment on the ranch. I might
say, without exaggeration 1 believe, an
indispensable asset in this day of high
priced lands and costs Of operations.
That, however, is for each rancher to
determine for himself when he has all
the facts before him.
Here are a few of the reasons why a
silo is good investment on any ranch
where ensilable farm products may be
successfully grown.
Ten to twenty tons of green fod-
der suitable for ensilage may be grown
on an acre of ground that will produce
three tons of alfalfa.
M hn
fully on ground that will not produce
alfalfa at all.
Ton for ton, corn silage is the equal
of any roughage feed and has proven
this every year for the past ten yeats
in the feed lots of the middle west.
| Ton for ton it costs less to produce.
1t is the most convenient form Of
feeding harvested roaghages, thec.by
reducing the cost of feeding operations
and increasing the number of cattle
which one attendent can properly care
for.
The Tickling process which takes
place in the silo renders digestable a
greater percentage of the dry matter
in the fodder on the ratio of approx
mately 10 20 6.3. In other words e
would take zen pounds or units If Jry
matter in fodder to produce the sumo
gam as would be produced by six and
three tcnths bounds or units of tho DIR.
matter in the Stage, fodder and allage
being made of the same material.
AuV fora cron poy Lao an-;1aJ .,,,aL
as corn, kaffir, cane, sunflowers, etc. 1t
is not profitable to ensile alfalfa.
OF no small Importance is the rela-
tive cheapness with which pork can be
made in the feed lot where the silags
is made of good, well matured corn.
This combination of cattle, silo and
hogs is 1000 efficient
A grown steer will we'd from two to
three tons of manure during the win.
ter's feeding This is Conservatory
worth from three to five dollars a ION
If returned to the soil.
For the small operator, either through
lack of capital or accommodations on
the range, the silo offers opportunities
That can never be appreciated until
tried. If you cannot range enough cat
tie to make it pay n reasonable return.
reduce your herd to mich cows ann
iced them silage. One good mich cow
on silage will bring you more velvet
tkan hve steers on tine range indiffrr-
entity wintered. For the small operator
cows and silos spell independence.
Silage is the greatest single factor IN
the heavy production of milk that has
yet been produced 1t is equally good
TO increase the flow of milk in ewes
with Limbs at their sides.
In advocating the use of silos we ara
not to be understood as being un,iind-
full of the value of alfalfa. On tins
contrary, for the very best results with
silage OF any kind, it is esseitnal that
the cattle lave access to all the alfalfa
they will eat provided they-are on full
feed They will eat 'only enough Of
the hay TO Properly balance the ration,
usually abont one pound of hay ~ ten
pounds of siiage.
In rou2f.ng range steers through on
siage We do not believe it wise to fed
the silage MS sole ration except Per
haps carly in the winter. This, We be-
lieve should be reduced to about half
hay and half silage toward sprms.
During the last three weeks before ire
steers are turned out in the spring, Il 4
would he wise to eliminate the silaes
gradually, finishing with dry hay -