160 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



use the cost of producing milk and meat may be materially lowered 

 all over the corn belt. Not only is corn silage excellent for cattle and 

 sheep, but it may be used in a limited way with horses that are idle or 

 at light work. The yield of silage per acre varies widely with the 

 soil and season. A 50-bushel crop of corn should make from 8 to 10 

 tons of silage, depending on the size and leanness of the stalks. The 

 importance of corn silage on American farms and the methods of 

 feeding it are discussed further in Chapter XVI and in the respective 

 chapters of Part III. 



Corn silage vs. corn fodder. — Ensiling is the best method of pre- 

 serving corn forage, for less nutrients are lost than when the crop is 

 cured as corn fodder, and corn silage also has a higher feeding value 

 than the same amount of dry matter in cured corn fodder. Even 

 when cured in well-made shocks, corn fodder or stover standing in 

 the field for a few months loses at least 15 per ct. and usually nearer 

 20 per ct. of the dry matter it contains, due to weathering and to 

 fermentations which gradually waste the forage. The losses fall 

 chiefly on the most valuable parts of the plant — the protein, sugar, 

 and starch — which are less resistant and more soluble than the fiber. 



Losses also occur when corn is ensiled, but, omitting the waste at 

 the top and bottom of the silo, the losses in dry matter need not ex- 

 ceed 10 per ct. if the silage is well made. As with corn fodder, the 

 losses fall on the best portions of the silage. Considerable of the pro- 

 tein is changed to amids, and some of the starch and sugar is de- 

 stroyed, while the fiber is not diminished. However, not as large a 

 part of the nutrients is lost by ensiling as when the crop is pre- 

 served as dry corn fodder. Including all the waste in the silo, in 10 

 trials at 4 experiment stations 15.7 per ct. of the dry matter was lost 

 when corn was ensiled, and 20.0 per ct. when the crop was cured in 

 shocks. Over 45 per ct. more crude protein was lost in the dry fodder 

 than in the silage. 



The feeding trials with dairy cows and steers reported in Part III 

 show that silage gives better results than a corresponding amount of 

 dry fodder. This is doubtless due to the fact that cattle usually 

 reject the dry butts of the corn stalks, even when finely cut, while in 

 silage they are eaten. Moreover, owing to the great palatability of 

 this succulent feed, silage-fed animals consume a larger ration, and 

 more nutrients are hence available for milk or flesh production after 

 supplying the wants of the body. Just as important as these advan- 

 tages is the fact that, like other succulent feeds, silage has a bene- 

 ficial laxative effect, and is a valuable aid in keeping farm animals 

 thrifty. 



The corn for silage. — In earlier years corn was usually ensiled 



