Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-02-22


tng article, is a prominent and success
ful farmer of the San Benito district
and owner of Laguna View Dairy Farm
"A businessman farmer. This article
was prepared by Mr.. Cowgirl at the re-
quest of County Farm Agent Louis ii.
Alsmeyer.-Editor)
(By s. PAUL COwGILL)
Ensilage has come to be the mainstay
of the dairy farmer. The progressive
dairyman of the north would no more
think of doing without his silos than he
would of using a scrub bull TO head his
herd. Even in the Rio Grande Valley,
silos will eventually be found to be the
principal economic factors in milk pro-
duction. There is no more economical
way Of storing roughage than through
TIE use Of silo. Silos thus far are few
and far between here in the Valley. But
you will notice as the dairy industry
develops-as il is sure to do, when the
Valley becomes established in its ways
that the silos will become more nu-
merous. In fact, judging from the pro-
Rress made in other dairy sections,
dairying as a business will not become
established until the silo comes into its
own. In the present day, dairying and
silos are about almost synonymous.
Dozen Cows Warrant a Silo.
A herd of ten twelve cows is a suf-
ficient number to warrant the use of a
silo. The only thing to consider is the
diameter of the siio. The smaller the
herd. the smaller the diameter of the
silo should be. From eight to twelve
feet in diameter is sufficient for a small
herd. Above this size we only need for
larger herds where a greater quantity
Of ensilage is used daily.
The cost of the material and labor ne
cessary to erect a well-built silo is much
less than that ia building that will
last the same number of years. This is
considering the building is sufficiently
large to shelter the same amount of for
age ss the silo in question.
There are firms in the Valley pre-
pared to manufacture concrete silo
blocks at a minimum cost to the pros
pective dairy farmer. These blocks are
80 constructed that very little skill is
required nerecting a silo. No cement
or mortar is needed in laying the blocks
The blocks are so constructed that they
are locked or mortised in absolute rig
idity. The strength of the slo is fur
ther insured by placing steel hoops or
bands around the outside at every two
foot door space. Once erected and the
hoops frightened, there is no expanding
and contracting, is found in slos
constructed of wooden slaves. When
properly constructed and set upon
heavy concrete foundation of sufficient
depth, such a concrete block silo should
endure indefinitely. A thin coat Of con-
crete is put on the outside to seal il
and protect the silo from the weather.
Best Crops for EnsiIage.
Now, as to the best crops that we grow
here in the Valley, with which we can
fill the silos for the best and most eco
nomic results. In the north, wherever
corn is grown to any extent, this crop
is practically the only crop used with
which 10 fill silos. Corn might be con-
sidered the universal crop for ensilage
where silos have thus far become at all
prevalent. However, conditions in the
Valley and other parts Of the south war
rant the consideration of other crops
for ensilage. While corn, even here,
may be considered the best ensilage
crop. the disadvantage of handling corn
for silage in this warm climate and the
advantage of other crops in the matter
of greater tonnage per acre at a minimum
cost of growing and harvesting, will un-
doubtedly swing preference to some 9TH
er crop. such as seeded ribboncane and
other strains Of the sorghum plant.
Sorghum Better Than Corn
The Kansas experiment station has
made a thorough test in comparing the
merits Of corn and sorghum for ensilage
when fed to dairy cattle. In the bulle-
tin which they have issued, stating the
results of their experiments, il is stated
that for milk production, sorghum has
80 pc rcent Il the value of corn. This
is considering the comparative number
of pounds of each required to produce
n given amount of milk. Corn, when
grown for ensilage in the Valley, has the
disadvantage of having very short sea-
son after the plant is sufficiently ma
tured during which it can be put in the
silo in a succulent and green condition.
Maturing in the warm season, the leaves
and stalk of the plant dry up readily
after the grain has matured. II the
dairy farmer does not have the facility
TO fill his silo when the corn is just at
the right stage, or il the weather is in
element at this period, he is going to
lose the use of his corn for ensilage un
less he cares 10 put up an ensilage of
m inferior quality as TO suceulence..
Another disadvantage Of corn for en-
.;la1e is that here in the Valley. about
three years out Of five the cornstaiks
are blown down in the row, making the
.,aIks grow crooked and difficult to han
d,e On the other hand, in the Valley,
sorybum for ensilage has three big ad-
v.ntages over corn. First, the tonnage
~ ensiIage which may be cut from an
acre of land during one season Is much
greater. The difference i 50 great es-
pccially where the seeded r1eoone""e Is
,Continued on Page Twol