PRESERVATION FOR STOCK' FOOD 751 



[lis.]. But in this case we should give the silage the credit of chap. 

 the increased milk production, which seems to have been at xv - 

 the rate 0(85 lbs. of milk to each ton of silage " {Jordan, 1). 



720. Maize Silage v. Roots. — The Michigan Station {Bull. 

 84, p. 107 ) concludes that " until further trial, we may consider 

 roots and maize silage practically equal in feeding value for 

 fattening lambs". "Maize silage is only slightly inferior in 

 feeding value to roots such as mangels and swedes, and to all 

 intents and purposes can replace them in the feeding ration" 

 (Holm, 7). 



721. Comparative Farm Value of Maize Grown for Silage 

 and for Grain. — Comparing the value to the farmer of maize 

 grown for silage or for grain to put on the market, in the latter 

 case the stover being consumed on the farm, Holm (7) obtains 

 the following figures : — 



Per Acre. 

 Yield of say 8 muids of maize per acre at los. . . ,£4 



Value of stover per acre say ...... o to o 



£±2S _g 

 Estimating 4 tons of silage to be equivalent in value to say 

 1 ton of oat-hay, and calculating oat-hay at £' D per ton, the 

 silage would be worth 25s. per ton. The value of an acre of 

 maize yielding only 10 tons of silage would therefore be worth 

 £l2 I OS., as against £4 10s. for the grain and stover, leaving 

 a difference of £8 in favour of the silage ; if we deduct from 

 this £2 per acre for extra cost of labour in making the silage, 

 we still have a balance of £6 per acre in favour of silage. But 

 that is perhaps the least important aspect of the case, as the 

 value of plenty of good succulent fodder for live stock during the 

 winter season can hardly be estimated (Holm, 7). 



722. Cost of Silage Production—The cost of producing 

 maize silage in the Transvaal is estimated by Holm (7) at 

 I OS. to 12s. per ton, the figures working out as follows: 



Per Acre. 

 Ploughing, cultivation, seed, and seeding . . £1 15 ° 



Cutting and hauling to silo 1 15 o 



Chaffing and pitting T I0 ° 



Total cost per acre . £5 f_ ° 



At 10 to 15 tons per acre the cost per ton works out, 

 therefore, at IOs. to 6s. 8d. according to yield per acre. The 



