LOSSES IN CORN FODDER 377 



As to the feeding value this man states that it may take the place 

 of timothy hay very successfully in any ration, for the part eaten is 

 nearly as valuable. Some complaint is made by farmers on account of 

 the heating of the shredded fodder, but if the heating does not go too 

 far it is not very detrimental. 



Some of the advantages of shredding are a decided increase in the 

 amount of roughage, a better preservation of food stuff, economy of 

 storage, the corn husking is done more easily and cheaply, and the 

 farmer is insured a good supply of bedding. Furthermore, a farmer 

 following out such a system is able to keep more and better stock upon 

 the same area of land. 



The Indiana farmer says in part: "In Clark County shredding of 

 fodder is esteemed very highly, not so much because of its increased 

 value, but because it fulfills the foregoing advantages so well. The 

 operation of husking and shredding is performed at one operation and 

 is much cheaper and more economical than the old system of cutting 

 and husking from the shock by hand." 



The Ohio party says that he considers shredded fodder a valuable 

 form of roughage when preserved in a good condition. Shredding 

 is not done until the sap is well dried out of the stalk, as this insures 

 good keeping qualities. When filling the mow with shredded fodder 

 it is well scattered and sprinkled with salt. The application of salt 

 aids in the curing and makes the fodder more palatable for the stock 

 to eat. Shredded fodder is much better kept in the barn, although 

 many times it is made into a high stack out of doors, and fed by simply 

 pushing or pitching the feed into an open rack where the cattle can 

 reach it. 



Our own experience tells us that in order to make shredding profit- 

 able we must have the best quality of fodder and a good yield of grain, 

 so that the husking and preparation of the fodder is done at the least 

 possible expense. We can hardly agree that fodder containing a small 

 per cent of corn will yield much profit by shredding. 



Threshing Corn Fodder. 



Threshing of corn which has been followed heretofore has given 

 away to the use of regular corn machinery, such as the shredder and 

 corn husker. This system consisted in running the corn fodder through 

 an ordinary threshing machine, which left the grain in a shelled form 

 ready for feeding purposes. The threshed stalks were either run into 

 the barn or into a stack much the same as straw from threshed grain. 



LOSSES IN CORN FODDER, Considerable loss occurs in fod- 

 der exposed to weather conditions in washing and bleaching and by 



