136 SECOND THOUSAND QUESTIONS IN AGRICULTURE 



Silage for 180 Acres of Corn Size of Silo, 

 days at 30 Ibs. at 12 tons Inside Depth of 



No. of Cows per day per acre Diameter Silage 



14 38 3 10 26 



15 40 3J4 10 28 



20 54 4*/ 2 12 26 



25 68 Sy 4 14 26 



30 81 6K 14 28 



35 95 8 16 26 



40 108 9 16 28 



45 122 10^4 18 26 



50 136 Uy 4 20 26 



In the above table we have figured twelve tons of corn to the 

 acre, which is a good average yield of silage corn in this State. It 

 would be well, however, to plant somewhat more to provide against 

 underestimating and other factors which may cause your crop to be 

 below normal. With twenty-five cows at present, we should advise 

 the erection of a silo 14x28 feet, which would furnish feed for thirty 

 cows for six months. When your herd increases to a point where 

 such a silo is too small you could erect another one alongside of it, 

 the same size and thus provide for the sixty head which you contem- 

 plate keeping. No one knows yet which is the best corn for this 

 State and probably there will never be any one best for all parts of 

 the State. For the purpose of siloing it is immaterial which variety 

 you use so long as that variety grows best in your location. 



Silage Always Ready. 



After filling a silo with alfalfa, how long will it be before it is 

 safe to begin feeding the ensilage? 



You can yank it out and feed it the next day if you wish, or any 

 day thereafter. 



Siloing Grain Without Cutting. 



In this locality there are no custom silage cutters, and the initial 

 cost of such equipment is often prohibitive to the small dairyman. Would 

 not the feeding value be as great if green alfalfa or grain was thor- 

 oughly tramped in a silo without being chopped? 



We will not say that the stuff cannot be tightly enough packed 

 to make good silage without cutting, but we are safe in saying that 

 it will not be. Even with cutting, it is hard to silo green grain, 

 because the hollow stems enclose too much air. It might be easier to 

 succeed with alfalfa that way than grain. 



Feeding Shorthorns in Winter. 



What is the best ration for beef-strain shorthorns to feed through 

 the winter while pastures are short? 



The simplest and cheapest ration to be fed would be either 

 alfalfa hay alone, or alfalfa hay and some grain feed. The amount of 

 grain to be fed would depend on when the steers are to be marketed 



