180 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 

 CORN AND CORN ENSILAGE. 



There are two methods of preserving corn for winter feeding in common use: by 

 curing in shocks or stooks, and by ensiling. Both methods inevitably lead to a certain 

 degree of loss of fodder, due to the destruction by fermentation of a portion of the 

 carbo-hydrates and protein compounds. Many and careful experiments made and re- 

 peated in the United States in order to compare the respective merits of the two plans, 

 have shown that the losses by field curing (stooks), as a rule, exceed those in the silo. 

 Under favourable conditions of ensiling — that is, with a fairly mature corn, and a well 

 constructed silo — the loss in food value by fermentation is probably less than 15 per 

 cent, but in shocked corn the loss appears to be seldom less than 20 per cent.* 



It has been abundantly shown that the dry matter of stooked corn and corn ensil- 

 age has practically an equal digestibility. We have, however, two important qualities 

 more highly developed in ensilage than in stooked corn, viz., succulency and palatabil- 

 ity, and this fact makes the former a much more desirable food, especially for dairy 

 cows. On the score of labour and loss in feeding, it is generally held by practical men 

 that ensiling is the much more economical plan. 



The object in the present investigation, as in the case of the clover just recited, 

 was to ascertain the extent to which the feeding value of the corn had suffered by en- 

 siling. 



The total loss that ensued is not deducible from our data, but the results obtained 

 allow us to compare, weight for weight, the corn as put into the silo with the corre- 

 sponding ensilage produced. 



Three samples of the corn as it was being put into the silo were taken on the 14th, 

 15th and 27th of September, 1900, respectively. They represented the quality of the 

 corn, (1) at the bottom of the silo ; (2) 22 feet from the bottom of the silo, and (3) 2SJ 

 feet from the bottom, or \\ feet from the top of the silo. The silo is 17 feet in diameter 

 and 30 feet high and was filled to the top. The weight of corn ensiled was, approx- 

 imately, 150 tons. 



The samples of ensilage, which were intended should correspond with the fore- 

 going, were collected on January 31, March 1, April 3, and April 6, 1901. The 

 January sample, it was expected, would represent the corn at the top of the silo (Sep- 

 tember 27) ; the March sample, that from the centre of the silo (September 15), and 

 the two April samples, one from the bottom and the other 2£ feet from the bottom of 

 the silo, that as first put into the silo (September 14). 



The composition of the three samples of corn and four of ensilage is given in 

 table I., the data of which allow us to compare the feeding values of the corn and cor- 

 responding ensilage weight for weight, and furnish us with an insight into the changes 

 that occurred during the ensiling process. In table II. these changes are made more 

 apparent by calculating the nutrients upon the water-free substance. 



* The extent of the deterioration in shocked corn will depend upon the condition of the corn 

 ■when cut, the length of time it is left shocked ia the field and the character of the weather 

 during that period. 



