364 Effective Farming 



for feeding dairy cows, Woodward of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture gives the following : 



r. Silage is the best and cheapest form in which a succulent feed 

 can be provided for winter use. 



2. An acre of corn can be placed in the silo at a cost not exceeding 

 that of shocking, husking, grinding, and shredding. 



3. Crops can be put into the silo during weather that could not be 

 utilized in making hay or curing fodder ; in some localities this is an 

 important consideration. 



4. A given amount of corn in the form of silage will produce more 

 milk than the same amount when shocked and dried. 



5. There is less waste in feeding silage than in feeding fodder. 

 Good silage properly fed is all consumed. 



6. Silage is very palatable. 



7. Silage, like other succulent feeds, has a beneficial effect upon 

 the digestive organs. 



8. More stock can be kept on a given area of land when silage is 

 the basis of the ration. 



9. On account of the smaller cost for labor, silage can be used for 

 supplementing pastures more economically than can soiling crops, 

 unless only a small amount of supplementary feed is required. 



10. Converting the corn crop into silage clears the land and leaves 

 it ready for another crop sooner than if the corn is shocked and 

 husked. 



From 30 to 40 pounds of silage is the usual quantity fed. 

 The rations listed below, which are given by Woodward, have 

 been found to be satisfactory. For grain mixtures, see the 

 subsequent pages. 



For a 1300-pound cow yielding 40 pounds of milk testing 3.5 

 per cent : 



POUNDS 



Silage 40 



Clover, cowpea, or alfalfa hay 10 



Grain mixture 10 



For the same cow yielding 20 pounds of 3.5 per cent milk : 



POUNDS 



Silage 40 



Clover, cowpea, or alfalfa hay 5 



Grain mixture . 5 



