The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-06-16
ENSILAGE UNSAFE FEED
FOR HORSES AND MULES
By George R. White, State Veteri-
marian.

By George R. White, State Veteri-
AS a safe and economic feed for
cattle, Ensilage. has few equals and
no superiors. What is said derog-
atory to Ensilage feeding in the fol-
lowing article has no reference what
soever, either directly or indirectly,
to feeding this product to cattle.
That Ensilage is an unsafe feed for
horses and mules has almost weekly
for several months--been brought
fcrcibly to my official attention by
livestock owners ineach Of the three
grand divisions of Tennessee. These
unfortunate owners have been the in
nocent victims of Ensilage feeding
and have frantically appealed to the
State Department of Agriculture for
assistance. Our field inspectors have
answered many of these calls. The in
spectors have invariably directed that
Ensilage feeding be discontinued and
in all instances the deaths at once
ceased.
About ten years ago-as State Vet
erinarian-the writer went on record
as strongly condemning the feeding
of Ensilage to horses and mules. In
fact, at that time, went so far as to
send out a warning to'live stock own
ers of Tennessee admonishing them
to avoid feeding Ensilage to horses
and mules. At that time we consid-
cred Ensilage an unsafe feed for this
class of live stock. Since then no
facts have been developed that are in
any way calculated to cause me to re-
verse the opinion then expressed. In
spite of our former warning, hun
dreds of valuable animals have been
sacrificed each year by owners per-
sisting in feeding Ensilage to horses
and mules.
Self constituted authorities have in
some instances-through the press
and otherwise-wrongly advised the
horse and mule owners. Such social
ed authorities have advocated Ensil-
age feeding to this class of animals
even in spite of the fact that it is a
hazardous procedure. | here recall
one amusing incident even though the
owner suffered heavy financial losses
by following the advices given. A
prominent farmer in one of our Mid
die Tennessee counties purchased 60
weanling colts. A strong advocate
of Ensilage feeding persuaded him to
build and fill two silos for the pur-
pose of carrying these 60 mules
through the winter cheaply and prof
itably. The owner followed the ad-
vice given by building two silos and
filling them with what was believed
to be first class ensilage. Soon af-
ter the beginning of winter one silo
was opened and the feeding started
In a few days the mules began to
sicken and die in spite of qualified
veterinarians efforts to save them
The State Department of Agriculture
was appealed to and the writer visit
ed the farm. At the time of my visit
Is mules were already dead and
others desperately sick from what
was then known as Forage Poison Oh
Blind Staggers."
The owner was very much disheart.
ened and discouraged and asked me
for my best advice. / suggested e
him that the feeding of Ensilage t
the remainder of the mules be imme.
diately discontinued; that he write
the party who persuaded him to feeC
Ensilage to his mules to the effect
that his advice had been followed, the
two silos had bee nbuilt and filled, the
60 mules had been put on Ensilags
feed, to date Is were dead and z 9th.
ers were desperately sick with nc
chance to save them. From present
indications the mules would give out
before the Ehsilage was consumed
and he wanted TO know what DISPOSE
ton his former adviser would suggest
for the balance Of the Ensilage.
We are grateful TO know that the
State Of Tennessee Department Of
Agriculture is on cerord as opposed Il
this practice. The disease produced
by Ensilage is Botulism.
Cattle, sheep and goats are in &
large degree immune to Botulism
Ensilage that is known to have killed
many horses and mules has been fec