SILAGE 291 



changed to non-protein. Furthermore, some of the starch 

 and sugar is changed to acetic acid (found in vinegar), 

 lactic acid (found in sour milk), butyric acid (found in stale 

 butter), and other organic acids, which, although probably 

 not as high in feeding value as the carbohydrates from which 

 they are formed, add materially to the flavor of the silage. 

 A certain amount of energy is lost from the ensiled corn as 

 heat, liberated during fermentation. These losses of nutri- 

 ents, however, are certainly not as great as the losses due 

 to weathering occurring in field-cured fodder. The digest- 

 ibility of the nutrients of corn silage and corn fodder are 

 about the same. The increased consumption of roughage 

 which otherwise is dry and unpalatable makes this the most 

 economical method of handling the corn crop. 



Until recently, corn silage has been used primarily as a 

 feed for dairy cattle. Lately, however, it has come into use 

 as a feed for cattle and sheep of all classes and is being used 

 to some extent for horses and mules. In feeding silage one 

 always should bear in mind that it is not a concentrate, but 

 a non-nitrogenous roughage containing a very large amount 

 of water, and, consequently should be properly supple- 

 mented with other feeds. 



For dairy cows, 25 to 50 pounds of silage per day may 

 be fed, 30 to 40 pounds being a good average. It should be 

 fed so as to remove several inches from the top of the silo 

 every day, particularly in warm weather, in order to prevent 

 unnecessary decay and waste. It should ])e fed only after 

 milking and any that is uneaten should be removed, as it is 

 Hable to impart a disagreeable flavor and odor to the milk. 

 If frozen, it should be allowed to thaw out before feeding. 

 Moldy silage should not be fed. About 5 to 10 per cent more 



