31 



It must be remembered that silage is not altogether 

 adapted for feeding alone, but forms a most valuable addi- 

 tion in a ration of dry or concentrated foods. 



As milk which lies in close proximity to loose silage is 

 apt to absorb the peculiar flavour, it is well to guard against 

 any carelessness in this direction. This may be done by 

 feeding the silage after milking is over and all the milk 

 has been taken away. After handling silage the person 

 should wash thoroughly before milking or otherwise work- 

 ing with the milk. A disregard for these rules has often 

 gained for silage-feeding a bad name, for it has been 

 thought by some that it was the feed which was having the 

 effect within the cow of tainting the milk. 



The milk flow is increased when ensilage takes the place 

 of dry forage, and the animal is kept in better condition. 

 The milk may, however, be slightly poorer in fats, that is, 

 if an equal weight of silage takes the place of an equal 

 weight of dry stuff. But if we reckon on a more practical 

 basis and compare the quantity of milk and butter fat pro- 

 duced by feeding the produce of equal areas of green 

 mealies, one converted into silage and the other made into 

 dry forage, we find that there is an increase of 8 per cent, 

 in the quantity of milk and of 3 per cent, in the quantity of 

 butter fat produced per acre. 



Of course the main advantages of ensilage are that it sup- 

 plies a cheap, palatable, digestible, succulent food for cattle 

 all the year round, by the use of which, without increasing 

 the number of the herd, without calling in the aid of expen- 

 sive artificials, the daily supply of milk can be kept up 

 during the dry or dormant season. 



The quantities which may be used depend on the nature 

 of the other food the cattle are receiving. If silage be the 

 only succulent food, up to 40 or 50 Ibs. may be given 

 per day with advantage. Silage is often fed combined with 

 lucerne or oat hay, corn, or the concentrated food stuffs. 



ullage also compares very favourably with other foods 

 in the fattening of stock. It has been proved in one 

 instance by experiment that animals can be fattened as 

 well on silage as on raots. 



Silage should prove a very effective means of bringing 

 stabled animals up to good show condition. 



It must be remembered, in considering what foods are 

 suited for horses and which are not, that their digestive 



