320 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



It is often argued that it is impossible to find the necessary labor to 

 put up the ensilage at tne proper time. This in some cases no doubt is 

 a vexing problem, but where it is possible to get the grain threshed in 

 shock or stack, it is also possible to put up ensilage by the same labor 

 system. Silo filling time comes as a rule between shock and stack 

 threshing and it would not be difficult in most communities, by arrang- 

 ing ahead of time, to get sufficient help to put up the ensilage. If there 

 are two or more silos in the community, it is quite easy to put up the en- 

 silage and do it with the greatest economy. 



I am often asked concerning the relative value of different kinds of 

 hay and silage. It should be understood that such comparisons are 

 difficult and do not illustrate the full value of the ensilage, for it does 

 not value the succulent nature of the ensilage, or its cooling, appetizing 

 effect on digestion, as with bluegrass, when analyzed, fails to show 

 any marked abundance of nutriment and yet we know the beneficial effect 

 of the food. Waiving then, the most valuable qualities in corn silage, 

 we can compare it with hay as follows: 



"Value of Corn Ensilage based on digestible carbohydrates: 



1 ton of ensilage 1 ton Sugar Beets 



3 tons of ensilage 1 ton Clover Hay 



SVz tons of ensilage 1 ton Alfalfa Hay 



21^: tons of ensilage 1 ton Marsh Hay 



3% tons of ensilage 1 ton of Prairie Hay 



Vo ton of ensilage 1 ton Pumpkins 



In a rude way this table has been compiled to avoid fractions of tons 

 given in terms of pounds. It must, therefore, be considered a rough es- 

 timate. However, basing the value of hay at the present price, it will 

 be found that corn "^nsilage in every case is a cheaper food. The feed- 

 ing value of corn ensilage, based on present prices of food stuffs, I have 

 placed at $5.00 per ton. This is giving ensilage due credit, not only for 

 its digestible nutriments, but also its succulency. Sugar beets are gen- 

 erally based at this price and as the two are about equal in feeding value 

 we may use the one to base the price of the other. From the figures al- 

 ready given, it will be noticed that the cost of producing corn ensilage 

 under the most expensive system is about $2.00 per ton, which gives this 

 food a decided advantage over beets in respect to cost. 



One of the benefits of the silo which is of no small consequence, is its 

 great economy of storage space. "We find from estimates made by differ- 

 ent Experiment Stations that the weight of a cubic foot of corn ensilage 

 varies from thirty-five to fifty-five pounds, according to the amount of 

 moisture the ensilage carries and to the location in the silo, as to near 

 top or bottom. 



The following table will show the difference in the space required by 

 hay in mow as compared with ensilage in silo: 



1 ton of ensilage 50 cubic feet 



1 ton of hay 500 cubic feet 



1 ton of ensilage, cost to put up $ .63 



1 ton of hay, cost to put up 1.50 



