86 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



and prefer that method of handling it? Three. How many have shred- 

 ded it and do not Hke that method of handling it? Five. 



There are some facts in regard to the utilization of corn fodder in 

 Missouri that it will be well for us to consider. There are thousands 

 of tons of fodder going to waste in the State of Missouri every year. 

 The men who own this corn fodder in the stalk fields get a return of 

 25 cents an acre for it, or 25 cents a ton as it is now handled. 



It is a principle which is always correct that you cannot afford to 

 put too much work on a cheap product and as long as we waste so 

 much fodder, we will not spend much money in preparing it in any way, 

 in the silo, or shredding it or any other way. 



We have performed one experiment in trying to feed shredded 

 fodder as against that not shredded. It seemed to indicate that the 

 animals would eat more fodder not shredded, but it required less fod- 

 der when it was shredded. They had to eat more of the faulty part 

 when it was shredded because we could manage to fool them and work 

 off on them some of the pith, but when it was not shredded they were 

 able to take out the good part and discard the remainder. 



Mr. Shephard — I have had quite a little experience in feeding fod- 

 der to milk cows and there the effect is very easily detected, beacuse it is 

 an effect that shows in a very few days' time and I agree with Mr. 

 Harned exactly that the best way to feed fodder is directly from the 

 shock and scattered over the pastures. Often it is greater economy from 

 the fact that it takes less labor that way and the stock can select the best 

 part of it and reject the faulty part, and there is always faulty fodder. 

 The trouble with the shredded fodder is that the faulty part is mixed 

 with the good and the cows are either compelled to eat what is not good 

 or reject the whole, and after quite a little experience I agree exactly 

 with Mr. Harned. 



Mr. Erwin — I have been feeding shredded fodder since 1900. My 

 cows were disposed to sort the fodder and take out the good and reject 

 the bad, and I have fed corn fodder not shredded to my cows for more 

 than 30 years. I find from much experience in handling a large quantity 

 of corn fodder and getting it from the field during the winter that it is 

 cheaper to handle it shredded than from the field direct and I find no 

 difficulty so far as the yield of milk is concerned or so far as the growth 

 of the animals is concerned ; and I find that the corn fodder is far better 

 than timothy hay, especially for horses that may be affected with heaves. 



Mr. Harned — How can Mr. Erwin find it cheaper to shred the 

 fodder than to use it whole, it costs $1.50 a ton to shred it? 



Mr. Erwin — It costs in oiu- section of the country 15 cents a shock 



