FARM ANIMALS 169 



nearly four hundred tests in which the effect of 

 silage on the flavor of the milk was studied, sixty 

 per cent, were in favor of the silage. These tests, 

 in addition to thousands of other practical tests 

 of the matter on dairy farms, in almost every state 

 in the Union, show that no injurious effects should 

 be looked for in the milk from feeding silage. If 

 silage is fed in liberal rations, for example thirty- 

 five to sixty pounds per day, the amount of grain 

 necessary to produce a maximum flow of milk 

 may be somewhat reduced or, stated in another 

 form, silage may be utilized to replace a portion 

 of the grain which would otherwise be necessary 

 for feeding dairy cows. This obviously means 

 a saving in expense since the chief item of expense 

 in feeding cows is the grain feeds, especially if 

 these have to be purchased. Where silage is fed 

 in addition to a leguminous hay a still further 

 reduction in the amount of grain is possible and 

 a still greater economy in the cost of feeding. One 

 great advantage of silage, which cannot fee lost 

 from sight, is that it is palatable for nearly all cows. 

 The slightly acid and fermented taste which good 

 silage possesses seems to be exactly to the liking 

 of nearly all cows and they will eat it in preference 

 to almost any form of hay, even the best alfalfa 

 hay when they are not acccustomed to the latter. 

 It should not be imagined that since corn is the 

 chief crop used for silage that it is the only crop 

 utilized in this way. Not only corn and various 

 legumes are ensiled, but also cereal hays, roots, 

 sugar beet pulp, sunflowers, and other farm crops. 

 Certain farmers practice the stack system of en- 

 siling leguminous crops and have obtained good 

 results. This practice, however, seems not to 

 have recommended itself very strongly to the 



