210 



FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



wet spells the palatability of the soilage is reduced, and it is difficult 

 to harvest and cart the food to the animals without injury to the land. 

 On the other hand, pastures also suffer if grazed while wet. 



The place of soilage on American farms. — It has been shown pre- 

 viously in this chapter that silage is a more economical means of 

 supplying succulent feed in summer than is soilage. On farms where 

 too few animals are kept to prevent the molding of the surface of the 

 silage as it is fed off in summer, or where a silo is not available, soilage 

 should be provided to prevent the usual midsummer shrinkage in milk 



Fig. 59. — Soilage Is Usually Less Economical than Silage 



Providing succulent feed in summer by a succession of soiling crops is usually 

 more expensive than the use of silage, chiefly because it requires more labor. 

 (From Wisconsin Station.) 



flow with cows, and in flesh with beef cattle or sheep. Under this 

 system animals may be housed in darkened stables away from the flies 

 during the heated portion of the day and fed liberally with fresh cut 

 soilage, being turned to pasture at night for exercise and grazing. 

 It is also wise to supply extra green forage in the fall, if the pastures 

 do not furnish plenty of feed. 



Because of the high price of labor in this country, it is not usually 

 economical, in regions where good summer pastures may be provided, 

 to maintain cattle in summer on soilage or silage with no pasturage. 

 On high-priced land where it is desired to keep as many animals as 



