EXPERIMENTS WITH ENSILAGE. 



MADE BY THE FARM DEPARTMENT OF THE MICHIGAN STATE 

 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 1882-3. 



Is an acre of com grown for fodder, ensilaged — ^v«rth more to feed cattle — 

 will it go farther than if cut up and dried in the ordinary way? is a question 

 often asked, but still not answered conclusively. While the answer possibly 

 may be in the negative (I am not of that opinion), it by no means follows that 

 ensilage would not even then have a very important place among our cattle 

 foods. If the reply should be in the affirmative, then, on the score of 

 economy, convenience in handling, and value, it would be almost indispensable 

 on a stock farm. This would be especially true where cows were kept for 

 dairy purposes, as ensilage being a succulent food, is calculated to produce a 

 liberal yield of milk. 



To still further test the value of ensilage as a practical, economical method 

 of storing and preserving fodder fresh and juicy for winter feeding — as a chief 

 substitute for roots — as a part ration with straw and coarse fodders, and espec- 

 ially in comparison with corn grown on adjacent plats and under the same 

 conditions as the ensilage ; but cut up and cured with great care in the 

 ordinary way — were the thoughts in mind in planning our feeding experiments 

 for 188;2 and '83. 



ANIMALS CHOSEN FOR THE EXPERIMENT. 



Three lots of cattle were selected from the college herd December 18, 1882. 



Lot I. 



consisted of three bulls, two Short-horns, and one Ayrshire. No. 1, a Short- 

 horn bull calf, aged 9 months; No. 3, an Ayrshire bull, aged 15 months; No. 

 3, a Short-horn bull, aged 14 months. 



Lot XL 



was composed of two large dry cows. Short-horns, nearly alike as to weight, 

 condition, and feeding qualities. No. 4, aged 6 years ; No. 5, aged 8 years. 



Lot in. 



was made up of four milch cows; three Ayrshires, and one Short-horn. No. 

 6, Ayrshire, aged 3 years, calved October 2, 1882; No. 7, Ayrshire, aged 4 

 years, calved September 29, 1882; No. 8, Ayrshire, aged 4 years, calved. 

 October 4, 1882 ; No. 9, Short-horn, aged 4 years, calved November 24, 1882. 



53 



