200 HOW TO FEED SILAGE. 



Silage as a Sole Roughage.— Several experiments have been 

 made by dairymen with feeding silage as their sole and only 

 roughage with very excellent results. While instances are on 

 record where large herds have been fed all winter in this manner, 

 the practical experience of those who have given close observation 

 to the subject, suggests that some dry protein roughage fed in 

 connection with silage is highly desirable. Corn silage contains 

 about 26 per cent, of dry matter, as compared with 91 per cent, in 

 alfalfa hay, and by using the hay it does away with purchasing so 

 much high protein concentrates which would otherwise be neces- 

 sary to properly balance the ration. While long continued tests 

 with silage as a sole roughage are lacking, and the possibly de- 

 teriorating results therefore unknown, it is well to know that the 

 animals can be successfully carried over in a, season of cheap 

 silage and excessively high priced hay. 



Silage for Beef Cattle. 



Prof. Henry says in regard to the value of silage for fattening 

 steers: "As with roots, silage makes the carcass watery and 

 soft to the touch. Some have considered this a disadvantage, but 

 is it not a desirable condition in the fattening steer? Com and 

 roughage produce a. hard dry carcass, and corn burns out the 

 digestive tract in the shortest possible time. With silage and 

 roots, digestion certainly must be more nearly normal, and its 

 profitable action longer continued. The tissues of -the body are 

 juicy, and the whole system must be in just that condition which 

 permits rapid fattening." 



Young stock may be fed half as much silage as full grown 

 ones, with the same restrictions and precautions as given for 

 steers. Experience obtained at the Kansas Station suggests that 

 com silage is not a fit food for breeding bulls, unless fed a few 

 pounds only as a relish; fed heavily on silage, bulls are said to 

 lose virility and become slow and uncertain breeders. 



Fuller information on this subject is given in Chapter V. of 

 this book, entitled "The Use of Silage in Beef Production." 



Silage for Horses. 



Silage has been fed to horses and colts for a number of years 

 with excellent results. These points should be kept in mind 

 however: Never feed moldy silage; most molds are poisonous to 



