264 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Sixth, in case of an epidemic of cholera or other contageous swine 

 disorder ,the pigs as a factor in economical production of beef may be 

 eliminated without any considerable loss, which would be impossible in 

 case of steers feeding on schock cr whole corn. 



Seventh .more pounds of meat can be produced per acre where silage 

 is fed to steers than where shod: corn is used; even though the greater 

 amount of poik produced in case of a system of shock corn feeding is 

 taken into account. 



Eighth, a much larger proportion of the meat produced is beef. 



Ninth, the corn may be harvested earlier in the season, generally be- 

 fore danger of frosts, and at a season, in Illinois at least, when other 

 farm work is not pressing. In speaking of the advantages of the silo 

 it should not be overlooked that Filage may be stored for late summer 

 feeding when pastures are often short an I the new corn crop is too im- 

 mature to feed to good advantage. 



The disadvantages appera to be: 



First, that in feeding equal acreas of corn as silage and as shock 

 corn a greater acreage of crops oil er than corn is required to supple- 

 ment silage than shock corn. T/is is an item which can not consis- 

 tently be overlooked, as economical beef pioduction in the corn belt in- 

 volves the utilization of as large a proportionate amount of corn as 

 possible; nevertheless, when we c< nsider the ultimate effect upon the 

 fertility of the soil ,the clover acreage, at least, may very profitably be 

 increased. 



Second, it is believed that wormer quarters must, be provided for 

 silage fed steers than for those receiving shock corn. 



Third, a system of feeding steers on silage involves more capital and 

 labor. 



Before attempting to draw final conclusions from the result of this 

 experiment as to the value of silage in beef production the reader should 

 bear in mind that wintering calves is but one factor in beef production 

 and that this experiment will not be complete until we have an opportun- 



