156 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The fact, however, that of the hundreds of feeders who use silage for fat- 

 tening cattle, practically none fail to speak in most gratifying terms of 

 their appreciation of its value, should be excellent proof of the economy 

 of the silo for beef cattle. 



There are two distinct advantages to feeding com silage to fattening 

 cattle. First, there is the conservation of the rough feed produced by 

 the corn plant, and, second, there is a larger profit from the feeding oper- 

 ation. 



In the production of corn, there must necessarily be produced large 

 quantities of stalks. Chemical analysis shows that approximately two- 

 thirds as much feeding value is locked up in the stalk as is contained in 

 the ear. The food nutrients of the stalk, however, are so locked with 

 fiber that when fed as corn stover or fodder, only a small percentage or 

 their real value is secured. Because the food nutrients of corn stalks are 

 so unavailable for animals, the roughage produced by the corn plant com- 

 mands on the market a price altogether too small for the soil fertility 

 removed by its sale. Therefore, on account of its chemical content and 

 its abundance on the farm, the more thorough utilization of the roughage 

 from the corn plant must be realized. 



One of the great secrets of success in large factories has been the 

 elimination of proper utilization of all waste. This is now one of the 

 great problems for the successful farmer. The roughage of the farm must 

 be utilized. Corn silage offers the greatest source of improvement with 

 which we are now familiar. When harvested in the ordinary manner, 

 not only is a large part of the food nutrients not available, but the woody 

 portions of the plant are unpalatable, and even when eaten require so 

 much energy in digestion that a large part of their value is lost. When 

 cut early and put into the silo, the entire mass passes through a process 

 of heating and fermenting that reduces the hard, woody portions of the 

 plant to a soft, palatable food which is readily eaten by cattle, horses or 

 sheep. Silage properly made is completely consumed, with practically no 

 waste. Corn put into the silo returns the feeder its full value without 

 waste. Not only is there a complete consumption of the plant, but the 

 animals are treated to a feed in winter that is succulent and palatable, 

 with all the thrift-giving properties of good summer pasture. 



The economic side of the question is, however, the most important one 

 from the standpoint of the cattle feeder. The ration we used must be the 

 one that will return the greatest profit. My presentation of this phase 

 of the subject is based on the results at Purdue Experiment Station, and in 

 no case are any conclusions drawn from less than two trials on that par- 

 ticular item, and in most cases three or four trials have been made. 



The general effect of adding corn silage to a ration for fattening beef 

 cattle is shown by the following table: 



