250 Feeds and Feeding. 



corn silage and of dry fodder is practically tlie same. Finally, 

 actual feeding trials with dairy cows have shown that silage usu- 

 ally gives better results than a corresponding amount of dry fodder. 

 The difference in favor of silage is probably due in part to the 

 fact that cattle usually reject the dry butts of the com stalk, 

 even when cut fine, while in silage this part is readily eaten. 

 Thus, with a given amount of forage of either kind, somewhat 

 more of that in the form of silage is consumed. Again, silage is 

 more acceptable to stock than dry fodder, and a larger amount 

 of dry matter is consumed in the same time, which conduces to 

 greater gains in flesh or larger yields of milk. Because the ani- 

 mal willingly eats more food in the shape of silage, there is more 

 nutriment left to form milk or flesh after the wants of the body 

 are met. 



It is a significant fact that the largest users of silage declare the 

 most strongly in favor of this forage. (654—5) 



392. Effects of silage on the carcass. — At the Utah Station, ' 

 Sanborn found that the flesh of steers fed silage contained six per 

 cent, and that of sheep two per cent, more water than the flesh 

 of other animals of the same kind receiving dry forage. Like 

 roots, silage makes a watery carcass, which is soft to the touch. 

 Some have considered this a disadvantage. Is it not rather a 

 desirable condition, within reasonable limits, for all farm stock, 

 including fattening animals during the earlier stages of that pro- 

 cess? 



Feeding dry forage only during the long winters tends to pro- 

 duce a dry, firm flesh — a condition certainly not conducive to 

 the highest degree of health if summer pastures afford the ideal 

 feed. While silage is highly useful in the preliminary stages 

 of steer feeding, and its continued use in moderate quantity 

 throughout the fattening period is desirable, the proportion of 

 this succulent food to dry forage should be diminished as fatten- 

 ing advances, in order that the flesh may become more solid. 



393. Yield of silage corn and roots. — Corn silage and roots both 

 claim the feeder's interest because of their palatabUity and succu- 

 lence. Siace they are equally relished by stock, the choice between 



> Bui. 8. 



