16 



N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[BuUetin 181 



soy beans in the silo makes a much narrower ratio and greatly 

 increases the feeding value of the silage. 



(It might be explained in this connection that the nutri- 

 tive ratio of a feed is the relation between its protein content 

 and its carbohydrates plus the fat multiplied by 2|. Thus a 

 feed containing 1 pound of digestible protein, 5 pounds of 

 digestible carbohydrates and 1 pound of fat would have a nutritive 

 ratio of 1 : 7j. The proper nutritive ratio for a dairy cow is 

 approximately 1 : 5.5.) 



While there are no feeding experiments on record to show 

 what increase may be expected from feeding corn and soy bean 

 silage over corn silage alone, the experience of farmers and 

 feeders in general is that the mixture is a much better feed. 

 Part of the grain or other protein concentrate may be omitted 

 from the ration where the mixed silage is fed. 



It should be remembered that soy beans alone do not make 

 good silage. They cure into a black, rather offensive smelling 

 mass. Where they are mixed with corn at the rate of one ton 

 of beans to two or three tons of corn, no odor results and the 

 silage is as palatable as straight corn silage. They can be mixed 

 at silage cutting time in these proportions or ensiled as they 

 grow naturally in the field when planted together. 



Cured as hay, soy beans have been found palatable and 

 nutritious. The following table* shows the relative nutritive 

 value of different kinds of hay: 



Table VII. Digestible Nutrients in 100 Pounds. 



Dry 



matter. 



Crude 

 protein. 



Carbohy- 

 drates. 



Fat. 



Nutritive 

 ratio. 



Soy bean hay . 

 Alfalfa hay . . . 

 Red clover hay 

 Timothy hay . . 



1: 3.6 

 1: 3.9 

 1: 5.7 

 1:15.2 



It can be seen here that the soy bean is high in digestible 

 nutrients. That it is a good feed is borne out by careful feeding: 



* Henry and Morrison, Feeds and Feeding, 1915. 



