746 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tlio conclusion is reaclied that under the conditions here prevailing 

 there is no difference in the rate of digestibility of the food, production, 

 etc., whether the anim als are given water ad libitum or before or after 

 eating. 



Digestion experiments, W. H. Jordan {Maine Sta. Rpt. 1893, pp. 

 38-43). — The results are given of digestion trials with sheep on Southern 

 corn fodder, field corn fodder, sweet corn fodder, Southern corn silage, 

 and field corn silage. No data are given except the composition of the 

 materials as fed and the digestion coefficients found. The latter were 

 as follows : 



Digestion coefficients of corn fodder and corn silage. 



Sonthem corn fodder, 1891 



Field coru fodder, 1891 



Sweet corn fodder, 1891... 

 SoutherD corn silage, 1892. 

 Field corn silage, 1892 



Do 



Field corn fodder, 1893.... 



Do 



During the past 4 years 37 digestion trials have been made at the 

 station on corn fodder and corn silage. The results of these are com- 

 pared with the digestion coefficients for timothy hay, wheat bran, and 

 corn meal. 



"These figures show beyond question that corn fodder well preserved and corn 

 silage have a high digestibility as compared with hay. To this fact should be 

 attributed in large measure undoubtedly the great favor with which the coru plant, 

 as now preserved in the silo is regarded by dairymen as milk-produciug food. 

 What has been supposed by many to be due to the peculiar influence of the fermenta- 

 tions in the silo, should more properly be credited to the superior food properties of 

 the plant which the silo conserves so efficiently, and which would be equally valu- 

 able when preserved as completely in any other manner." 



A comparison is also made of the digestibility of the fodder and 

 silage from native field corn and from Southern corn grown in Maine. 

 The comparison is as follows: 



Comparative digestihility of 2 varieties of corn grown under similar conditions. 



"It is certainly a matter of some importance to Maine farmers that the smaller 

 variety of corn, which matures in this latitude, should prove to be more digestible 

 to the extent of about 8 per cent of the total dry matter. 



