The Question Box. 43 



Question. — What is the cheapest fattening ration for two and 

 three-year-old cattle ? 



Mr. Smith. — The only thing for an eastern man to do is to 

 follow the plan of the western man. He uses the silo. There 

 is no better plan. Clover hay, corn ensilage, wheat bran, corn meal 

 are the foods. If the ensilage is rich in corn, not so much corn meal 

 will be required ; and it is better to add some wheat bran. It serves 

 to keep the animal more healthy than does so much corn, while it 

 fattens just as rapidly. 



Question. — How about ground peas for cows ? 



Mr. Smith. — They are excellent, having nearly 20 per cent, of 

 protein ; they are also very digestible. 



Question. — What is the feeding value of hominy meal ? 



Mr. Smith. — Compared with wheat bran at $15 per ton, it 

 is worth $8.52. If you want something in place of corn meal, 

 " hominy chop " is all right. It is a carbonaceous food, just as 

 is corn meal, so it should not be fed w 7 ith the corn, to balance the 

 ration. 



Question. — Will it pay to grow carrots and mangels for cows 

 when one has ensilage, to produce milk ? 



Mr. Smith. — Xo; if you have ensilage, do not raise roots; but, 

 if you do not have the ensilage, by all means raise roots — mangels 

 will be the best. 



Question. — Is beet pulp a reliable cattle food ? W T ill it spoil if 

 kept ? What can we afford to pay for it ? 



Mr. Smith. — There is about 8 to 10 per cent, of solids in beet 

 pulp. When it is fresh and -sweet, it is good ; but it is simply a 

 question as to its feeding value. Professor Wing of Cornell, says 

 it has a feeding value of about one-half that of corn ensilage. Com- 

 pared with ensilage at a cost, of $2 per ton, outside figures, it is 

 worth $1 per ton. One had better grow mangels, because, in those 

 he will get all the solids, while from the sugar-beet pulp 

 all the sugar has been taken out. The balance is water, woody 

 fiber and about eight-tenths of 1 per cent, of protein. I doubt 

 if any one can afford to pay $3 per ton for it. If course, pulp 

 has some value in its succulence, and is a good food if it can be 

 bought cheaply enough. If properly cared for, it will keep some 

 time. 



Mr. Woodward. — I can grow ensilage and put it into my silos 

 for $1.25 per ton, but I should not give half that for sugar-beet 

 pulp. They cannot sell it to me; would much prefer the waste 

 molasses from the beet-sugar factory. But, if I wanted some sue- 



