459 



(2) The silage lost about two fifths as much total protein as the fodder, hut over 

 one fourth of its albnuiinoias was oouvertert into non-alhnniiuoids (a less valuable 

 class of ingredients), while in the case of the tield-cure<l fodder there is no evidence of 

 any such cf inversion. 



(3) The silage lost no woody fiber, while the cured fodder lost a considerable 

 amount of this ingredient, evidently from the breaking ott' of parts during handling. 



(4) The losses of nitrogen-free extract (starchy matter) are about in proportion to 

 the total loss of dry matter, being slightly greater, relatively, in the fodder than iu 

 the silage. 



The results of experiments on the losses by ensiling- ami by iield euring 

 fodder corn, reported in the Annual Ke]»orts of the AViseonsin Station 

 for 1888 and 1889 (see Experiment Station Bulletin No. 2, part i, p. 

 200, and Experiment Station Record, vol. ii, p, 430), and in Bulletin No. 

 7 of the Missouri Station (see Experiment Station Record, vol. i, p. 249), 

 are compared Avith those given above. 



" It Avould apjiear that under ordinary conditions there is a smaller 

 loss in ensiling- than in fleld curing, although the exact difference in any 

 particular case will depend both ui>on the care and skill with which the 

 l)rocess is carried out and upon the weather during the fall and early 

 winter." 



Exi)eriments cm the digestibility of the silage and the field-cured 

 fodder corn wew made with two grade Devon steers. These feeding 

 stuffs were each fed exclusively for 2 Meeks, the iirst week of each feed- 

 ing period being iegarde<l as pieliminary. The amount fed each animal 

 was 45 ])Oun(ls of silage from the rapidly tilled silo, 35 pounds of silage 

 from the slowly filled silo, which contained a larger percentage of dry 

 matter than the other, or about 16 pounds of cut and shredded field- 

 cured fodder coin ]ier day. The data obtained in the experiments are 

 tabulated. A summary of the results is given as follows : 



Coefficients of digestihility. 



Total dry matter 



Ash....' 



Albuiiiinoiils 



!Noii-albiiiuiuoids 



Crude fiber 



Nitiogen-free extract 

 Crude fat 



Silage Ironi rapidly 

 filled ailo. 



Steer 1. 



Per cent. 

 60 

 28 

 25 

 100 

 60 

 63 

 85 



Steer 2. 



Silage from slowly 

 filled silo. 



Steer 1. 



Per cent. 

 67 

 40 i 

 30 

 100 

 67 ! 

 70 j 

 87 I 



Steer 2. 



Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



62 

 39 

 23 

 100 

 56 

 67 

 86 



Average 

 for silage, 



61 

 19 

 17 i 

 100 i 

 56 i 

 66 I 

 86 



Field-cured fodder 

 com. 



Steer 1. I Steer 2. 



62 

 32 



100 ! 

 60 

 66 

 86 



Per cent. • Per cent. 



69 I 64 



51 j 47 



29 i 21 



100 I 100 



73 I 69 



70 65 

 80 I 79 



The results are cited of similar expetiments at the Wisconsin Station 

 (reported in the publication referred to above) and at the New York 

 State Station (see Annual Keport for 1884, p. 45). 



" While the results of these digestion experiments vary somewhat, yet 

 in general they are quite comparable with the results of our own experi- 

 ment, and taking them all together they appear to indicate with reason- 

 able certainty that there is no material difference in the digestibility 



