SILAgtB FOR SHEEP. 203 



Results of a test made at the N. C. Experiment Station, 

 Raleigh, N. C, showed "that work mules will eat 20 to 50 pounds 

 of corn silage per day and when the ration is properly balanced 

 by the use of other feed-stuffs that 2% to 3 lbs. of silage could be 

 substituted for 1 lb. of clover hay or cow pea hay. Results show 

 that silage and ear corn or silage or com and cobmeal is not so 

 satisfactory as silage and a grain ration higher in protein value 

 such as bran, cottonseed meal or oil meal." 



The Taft Ranch in Texas now has 36 silos, several being used 

 for silage for mufes. They feed a. mixture of red top, sorghum, 

 kafir corn and Indian corn planted in the same drilled row. The 

 feeding starts in November with a very small allowance to each 

 mule, and increasing later until they are fed unlimited quantities 

 mixed with cottonseed meal, with apparently satisfactory results. 



Silage for Sheep. 



Despite the popular conception that silage is more or less dan- 

 gerous to feed to sheep, especially breeding ewes, its great value 

 and entire safety has been demonstrated as a fact by long and 

 careful tests at the experiment stations, notably at the Purdue 

 Station. The evidence is conclusive that from the standpoints of 

 palatabillty, succulence and economy no other feed can compare 

 with good silage. Succulence, probably the most important ele- 

 ment In the winter ration of the breeding ■ ewe, is necessary to 

 secure or maintain the freshness, vigor and health so desirable in 

 the flock. 



Though good silage may be a safe and desirable feed, it does 

 not follow that silage which is very acid, spoiled or decomposed, 

 is not dangerous or even deadly in Its effects when fed to lambs. 

 Some time after the close of one of the early experiments ai; 

 Purdue, four lambs died from the effects, supposedly of eating 

 spoiled silage. The cause was assigned to poisonous products 

 resulting from decomposition of the silage, which was favored 

 by the exposure of the silage to the air in warm weather and the 

 low condition of the silo. 



Feeding an abnormal amount of silage, close confinement, lack 

 of exercise and lack of experienced shepherd to handle the ewes 

 at lambing time often prevent maximum results, and silage feeding 

 has for this reason been unjustly condemned at times. 



The Indiana Station has been conducting experiments with 



