1 5 Years' Experience with the Silo 



By F. L. Allen. 



MAPLE CREEK FARM 



Trumbull Co., Ohio. 

 The Silver Manufacturing Co., Salem, Ohio. 



Gentlemen: Complying with your request I submit the fol- 

 lowing as embracing my experience of 15 years with the silo, 

 and in feeding silage for milk and beef: 



Economy of the Silo. 



The silo cannot be looked upon as the only essential ele- 

 ment of success in farm practice, yet there are many distinct 

 advantages to be gained from its use. In the first place it en- 

 ables one to use the entire corn crop. The analysis of the corn 

 plant shows that nearly one-half its food value is in the stalk 

 and leaves after the ear has been removed. It also shows that 

 there is the most digestible matter in the crop just at its matur- 

 ity, before it dries and hardens. By the usual methods of hand- 

 ling the crop, a large part frequently all of the fodder is 

 wasted, and a distinct loss is incurred by allowing the fodder 

 to dry out. The use of the silo enables the feeder to avoid 

 these losses, for he can take the entire crop from the field just 

 at the time when it contains the most digestible food value, 

 place it under cover at the barn convenient for feeding, succu- 

 lent, .digestible, palatable, in such condition that it will all be 

 consumed. 



We value the silo as the source of an abundant supply of 

 cheap, succulent food for the winter months or seasons of 

 drouth. Silage, if properly put up, will keep for an indefinite 

 time. We have fed it four years old as "good as new." It is 

 worth while to have it on hand ready to supply the need at 

 any time. 



Silage Differs in Composition. 



Many farmers seem to forget that the silo merely preserves 

 what is put into it. One can never get anything out of a silo 

 that he doesn't first put in. If soft, immature corn is put into 

 a silo, the silage will be sour, washy stuff, with little "body" 

 to it, and its feeding will be a disappointment. On the other 

 hand, if good, mature, well-eared corn is siloed, the result will 

 be a strong, nutritious food, highly satisfactory. 



Chemical analysis of the corn plant shows that it nearly 

 doubles in feeding value between the time it reaches its full 

 growth (tasseled) and maturity. The feeding value of silage 

 will correspond with the maturity of the corn siloed. 



Silage Not a Perfect Food. 



Probably most will agree that good blue grass pasture Is 

 the cheapest and most satisfactory, all-around food for growth 

 or milk. Now, if we will compare the analyses of blue grass 

 pasture and good silage, we will find them almost identical 

 except in the matter of protein, in which element silage is 

 deficient. 



Water. Protein Carbohydrates Fat 



Pasture grass 80 2.6 10.6 .6 



Silage 79 1.2 11.8 .6 



225 



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