EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART VII. 283 



However, if precautions are taken to keep the silage out of the barn at 

 milking times it will be found that there is very little, if any, taint to the 

 milk produced by silage feeding. 



Thus far I have spoken to you only of feeding silage during the winter 

 months. However, there is no doubt but what its advantages are equally 

 great for summer months. "We seldom have a year but that some time 

 during the summer months the pastures become dry and the cows decline 

 very greatly in their milk flow. It has long since been decided that 

 some soiling crops should be supplied for the cows at this period, but 

 there are many disadvantages in growing soiling crops for feed. In the 

 first place it is very difficult to determine when the drouth and short 

 pastures are to occur and it behooves the feeder to have green food coming 

 on at all times during the summer and much of it cannot be used for the 

 purpose of soiling. Where the summer feed is put into the silo it is 

 ready for use at any period. Again, the summer rains which come make 

 it very disagreeable to harvest the soiling crops, much time is consumed 

 in doing so during the busy season, and furthei'more, the soiling crops 

 change much from week to week in the stages of their maturity so that 

 there can be little regularity in feeding these crops to the cows. On the 

 other hand the silage which has been put into the silo the fall before 

 during a less busy season can be fed with ease each day and the quality 

 of the product remains stationary no matter what the climatic conditions 

 may be. In case the season has been so favorable that no soiling crop 

 has been necessary there is no loss, because silage once put into the 

 silo and sealed up from the top will keep from year to year and for 

 an indefinite length of time. 



In feeding other farm animals besides dairy cows the silo is equally 

 important. This is especially true in feeding young calves through the 

 winter months because the succulent character of the silage keeps the 

 digestive tract of the animal in most excellent condition, as will be indi- 

 cated by soft, pliable tough of the hair and hide of the beast. By 

 keeping the digestive apparatus in this excellent condition the calf thrives 

 and grows more rapidly than if it were kept entirely upon dry feed. 



Calling to mind the fact that Iowa stands first in the production of 

 butter, and this year second in the production of corn, it becomes evident 

 that the Iowa farm is not complete in its equipment unless it is provided 

 with silos for the purpose of converting the corn into ensilage, which is 

 one of the most productive sources of butter fat. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman: Now, gentlemen, we have a little time before 

 closing and if there is anyone here that would like to ask Prof. 

 Van Pelt a question I am sure he will be glad to answer it. This 

 is a matter I think of great interest to the dairymen of the state 

 of Iowa, a matter that we should give a great deal of consideration 

 and one I believe that should be thoroughly talked over here. Are 

 there any questions for Mr. Van Pelt? 



