U-2 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The silo will certainly become an important factor in cheap beef pro- 

 duction. As already stated, some sort of green feed is almost indispens- 

 able during the spring months. Silage fills this need in the cheapest and 

 most efficient manner. Silage, however, is proving itself to be an excellent 

 feed all through the winter months, both for stock cattle and for fatten- 

 ing cattle. 



The waste of corn fodder in Iowa is enormous. Thousands of farmers 

 refuse to cut corn fodder in the fall, and are forced to buy hay in the 

 spring. Corn fodder, properly combined with other feeds, is almost as 

 valuable as timothy hay in producing beef. A ration of clover or alfalfa 

 hay, silage and corn fodder will keep beef cattle thriving at a minimum 

 of expense. 



As the manufacturer of today makes his profit out of what was wasted 

 a few years ago, so the beef producer of today must figure on making pro- 

 fit on what has hitherto been wasted. He must study the problem of in- 

 creased production, of properly combining feeds, of saving the wastes, and 

 of properly caring for the manure. Take the question of straw, for in- 

 stance. Much of the straw in Iowa is not even decently stacked, and much 

 of the straw that is stacked is spoiled by snow and rain during the winter. 

 It will pay any stock producer to build a cover for his straw stacks in 

 order that he may save his straw and have sufficient bedding to keep his 

 stock comfortable and retain the liquid manure. 



And now I come to an important factor in beef production, and one 

 which will become more important in the future than it has in the past, 

 and that is the saving of the manure. Few of us appreciate the value of 

 manure. The beef producer of today can not afford to lose any of this im- 

 portant by-product of the feed lot. 



The value of barnyard manure is strikingly shown in Circular 54, is- 

 sued by Director Thorne, of the Ohio Experiment Station. This experi- 

 ment covered a period of nine years, corn, wheat and clover being grown 

 in a three-year rotation. The manure was applied to the corn crop at the 

 rate of eight tons per acre, wheat and clover following without further 

 manuring. Figuring corn at 40 cents a bushel and stover at $3 per ton, 

 the average yearly increase in the corn crop amounted to $7. Figuring 

 wheat at 80 cents per bushel and straw at $2 per ton, the average yearly 

 increase in wheat amounted to $7.58. Figuring clover at $8 per ton, the 

 average yearly increase amounted to $2.74. Adding these together, we find 

 that eight tons of barnyard manure increased the crops grown in the land 

 $17.32, or $2.17 per ton of manure. Manure kept under cover produced 

 the same time $23.61 for eight tons, or $2.95 per ton. The value of manure 

 as a by-product of the stock-producing business is becoming increasingly 

 important. 



To sum up the discussion on growing beef-producing animals: 



1. Increase the producing power of the pasture. 



2. Grow the necessary portion in the shape of clover and alfalfa. 



3. Utilize what is now wasted by putting up silage, cutting corn fodder 

 and taking care of straw. 



4. Take care of the manure. 



