COARSE FEEDS AND THEIR VALUE 299 



tain considerable loss in food value, unless well handled. 

 For this reason, corn silage only will be discussed here. 

 Sorghum and kaffir corn may be preserved in the silo equally 

 well with corn. 



The chief value of silage lies in the fact that it enables 

 the stockman to give his cattle and sheep, especially, a suc- 

 culent feed during the months of the year when the pastures 

 are dead and no green feed is obtainable. If one has plenty 

 of silage, then he is quite independent of summer drouth. 

 In fact, many owners of dairy cattle feed silage the year 

 round. Because of its tender, succulent nature and the con- 

 venience of handling, it is well adapted to all seasons. 



The corn crop is usually harvested when the kernels 

 are turning into the glaze. It then is run through a forage 

 cutter and cut into pieces about half an inch long. In this 

 condition it is spread about in the silo and allowed to settle. 

 As usually made, it contains about \y% per cent protein. 

 The dry matter in silage is worth no more than that in corn 

 fodder, chemically considered, but cattle especially seem to 

 respond to this feed, with increase of milk flow and a better 

 condition of body, than when on dry fodder. Many feeding 

 experiments have shown that corn silage is most desirable 

 for dairy cows, and very favorable reports are being made on 

 its use in beef production. It is well suited to sheep. Horses 

 will do well on it when fed with moderation. For hogs, 

 however, silage is too bulky and unsatisfactory and is rarely 

 fed to them, and then with little benefit in most cases. In 

 general, hay and some grain should be fed with silage. For 

 cattle, from 25 to 35 pourids a day is a common ration 

 while for sheep from 3 to 5 pounds daily is ample. 



Rape is a plant that belongs to the same family as the 

 turnip and radish, and is grown for its succulent leaves. It 

 is used exclusively for pasturage for sheep and hogs and is 



