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VOL.LX. INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 11,1905. NO. JO SILOS AND SILAGE. Tbe Experience of a Noted Ohio Cattla Feeder. Feedlxg Silage to Beef Cattle. By Humphrey Jones, Washington, O. Ceittle feeders everywhere realize the importance of tlie cheaper production of beef. "The profits usually are small nnd oftentimes there is a loss. Assuming that the law ofi supply and demand controls the price of the finished product, there appears to be but two ways to increase the profits of the feeder— to get tlie feeders cheaper aud to reduce, the cost of finishing the steers. The use of silage for steer feeding is a new thing, rand like all new things it is apt to have its too enthusiastic advocates who will make extravagant and rexcessive claims for it. The subject should be discussed and considered impartially and not after the fashion of the special pleader or the advocate of some pet theory. The ti stimony of those having had experience on the subject, to be of much value, should be full and complete—tlie whole truth, because of partial statement of facts in regard to any matter may be as misleading as an nlbsolute misstatement. Our experience with silage for cattle feeding purposes began in 1901, at which time we erected and filled three silos 2G ft. x -12 ft. having a capacity of about 550 to 000 tons each. This was followed the next year by the erection of a cement silo 30 ft. x 52 ft. whicli, according to the rules usually applied to ascertain the capacity of silos of ordinary size, should hold about 1500 tons, but we have found that it actually holds about 50 per cent, more than- all three of our other silos put togetlner, whicli figured according to the same rules have the capacities above given, so that our cement silo must hold something over 2000 tons. The contents of these silos have each year been fed to beef cattle. Our silage has been made of ripe corn grown so as to make the largest possible yield of grain and nearly ripe soy Iseans mixed in the silo in the proportion of about % the former to Vi the latter. In connection with the silage we have fed clover, alfalfa and oat hay. Early in our experience we added ear corn but soon abandoned that and substituted cotton seed meal therefore with much better and more satisfactory results. We have found that cattle will eat, of the kind of silage which we have been making, about 5 lbs. per day per hundred weight up to 1000 lbs. weight, 50 lbs. per head per day l»e- ing about the maximum amount, whicji a steer of any size will eat; that when V* lb. per hundred weight of cotton seed meal is sprinkled over the silage the cattle will < at slightly above one-third lb. per hundred weight per day of clover, alfalfa or oat hay, making for a 1000 lb. steer a ration of 50 lbs. silage, 5 lbs. cotton soed moral and 4 Ilss. of hay, anrl for smaller steers proportionate amounts less. In our later feeding operations we have settled upon this kind of ration for fattening cattle. Cattle whicli nre being carried as stockers we feed little or no cotton soed meal, and they eat a large proportion of clover hay, proliably 50 per cent. more. 50 lbs. of corn and soy bean silage, 5 lbs. cotton- seed meal ami 4 lbs. clover or alfalfa hay for a 1000 lb. steer makes a ration containing about 2.8 lb. protein, 13 ibs. carbohydrates and 1.2 lbs. fat, with a nutritive ratio of* nbout 1:5.5. The standard ration is protein 2.5 ll*»., carbohydrates 15 lbs. and fat .5 lbs., nutri tive ration about 1:0, so that it will be seen tlint the ration closely approximates wlutt is thought to be the actual requirements of the steer. Whatever the correct theory may be we know from actual experience that the above ration makes the cattledo better and makes more money for the feed consumed than our former practice of feeding the cattle all the shock corn they would eat with occasional allowance of clover hay, or ear corn aud clover hay. The steers, with this ration, get about 15 lbs. of grain per head per day, or about 1 */* lbs. per hundred weight lor a 1000 lb. steer, l'rof. Henry states that albout 12 lbs. per day of grain is all a steer of any size can profitably utilize, and he cites the fact that, the best English and Scotch fooders use even less than that amount of grain. We have found by pretty careful tests that corn grown as we grow it for silage that will yield 50 bu. of ears per acre will make about 8 tons of silage per acre as taken from the silo, there of course lning a greater weight as it goes into the silo. If the corn were cut green ..according to the practice of many dairymen it would make probably 10 to 12 tons per acre, but we always let our corn get ripe enough to put in shock and much of it becomes dead ripo before going into the silos. 50 bu. of ears equals 3500 Ibs. of ear for each 10,- 000 lbs. of silage which makes the ears equal about 22 per cent of the total weight of silage. The soy beans, we think, have a bout the same proportion of grain to total weight, so that we count our silage 20 per cent, grain. In 50 lbs. of silage n steer would therefore get 10 lbs. of grain, and 5 lbs. cotton seed meal added would make 15 lbs. of grain, or 1 */. lbs. per hundred weight for 1000 lb. steer. An important feature, too, is the fact that the grain is thoroughly mixed with the roughage so that it. is all well digested, thus making a smaller grain ration sufficient. Whether silage, in the case of any particular feeder, should be adopted for steer feeding, depends upon the net balance of advantages and disadvantages in his special situation and circumstances. Not all men, by all means, who handle cattle should Ibuild silos. The advantages and disadvantages, as we have found them, are substantially as follows: — The Advantages. — 1. Corn put into the silo has a greater feeding value than when fed dry. Siloing does not increase the food content of the corn. You cannot take any more out of the silo than you put in, nor as much, but the increase in digestibility of the whole plant by reason of the heating and fermentation incident to siloing exceeds the loss of food mine due to that process (and there is some) so that there is a net gain. This gain is not much, running according to the experiments made at several of the stations nbout 10 to 12 per cent. This is not enough in nnd of itself to justify ensiloing the corn; it must lie re membered that these exi-eriments have all been conducted upon the basis of the dry corn plant boing cared for so ns to lose ns little as possible of its feed value and palatability, anil that it has been prepared and fed in the best possible condition for the cattle to get tlie largost benefit therefrom. This renders these experiments of little practical value to the average cattle feeder, lieeause he has not such means of caring for the dry corn plant as is usually employed in making these experiments. With throe- fourths of the feeders iu tlie principal cattle feeding sections of Ohio shock corn only is fed and the corn stands out in the field all winter and is hauled to the fee«l lot as needed. Many shocks twist down and partially or wholly rot, all are soaked with the rains and beaten by the winds aimer ** . whit h is s *. n el of si per Inge with thau **• *i •n in the crib .yijLLd,j-ssf" '■ ■ -*' " i'""4 trA-e*'**-}^ &>*'•' .'.*. \'*~~ ni'; ,,~\v> s" 3* J I \ ----*. %—■ *-* Will.. *■ I *.'■•!' J , • r ) *■' :•'- '■*"'■•- '• ■*_**. V.sl> us* ■■ suns n .■Tt.sssmi ..- J*—»*** *.*—*-*** "»■,<' -t "I fit-'V- A'? i-**-l_i..*, . i.U J „„.<t*J^i-_ i'.~. mnf -.1 ■ ' m—~. W' ■•> *t - •*%.•_? -•v-i.o ■.*■ •n^V'^-' s ',\ . il'V- - ".,,757--: ■".' f ft : J '- ]-—}-< -71- '. -■urTsr* mk**m7m-C^tpm*m^-*mmmi im » 1 * n i £■* J*( *C *•**, t,. ,-iA l ', **— t—** r -•:- s^ 'if _.._ —s*sr**l*-**S****lmSltai i^_i>. _ " i -* . * f* The following table elves the dimension of ullus, uuiulK'r of cattle tliey will feed IM) days, and the approximate number of acres of corn siUge they will hold: «■* ™ _, S, ss, s. *■ e O C *i O a « •• a ■-."" a it s S9 _ is I £ c -* /. < 20 10 s 12 ?A • •1 IM li 4.") 4-/5 ■Jl 11 Ul Ol r; 'Jl IIS 21 SO s •1( IS 2S ins . 10 '11 12 111 r.r» 0 •11 14 III 7:: H 21 I'i 28 nm 10 •11 IS '.','1 120 12 •11 •HI- 40 no 1.1 •11 'I'l 50 in.-, IS •11 •11 • Si 2sH) 22 Stl 12 21 ISO N -.til 14 2S lis 10 ::o HI '.,'1 120 12 w IS 40 J.'sO 15 .TO •m r/> 1ST. 18 r.o 22 (10 22."» 2) :to 2! 73 209 27 get hard ami woody, and arc thns more or less damaged. It is a matter of common knowledge among feeders that after the first of .March the fodder iir shock corn is of little value. Under favorable conditions, fattening cattle will eat only the Irest portions of the fodder, and the great bulk of it is wasted and thrown out to keep thom up out of the mud. With all these things taken into consideration- the gain in feed value to the average cattle feeder who uses shock corn, by reason of siloing the eorn is. in our judgment, not less than 50 por cont. We carry upon the same land with the same amount of corn disregarding purchased food, more than 50 per ont more cnttle than we did before we heid the silos, and whatever the correct tncory of the matter may bo, this solid hard fact is sullicient to satisfy us lhat vsiy much more can Ir- got ont of the corn plant fori iu the form of silage than w hen fe<l dry in r practicable with us. i 2. drains can hi Un' corn plant in thl whon fori as shock c The average price on the farms of Ohii_,-V" «g n series of say 10 years is prolja'r5. t far from 10 outs i>er bushel. Th'i&s' ,-s an acne of corn makiujf 50 bu. I><!j'""! - worth $20.00 If the same corn jir-lrls (1 tons per acre of silage, the value of the silage is $2.50 per ton, and if no more oxpr-irse has boon put on the acre of oorn whin put in tlie silo them when out, husked anrl cribbed or fed out ill the usual way, the results from feeding each will l>o a true index ot the nlative cost of grains. Our experienoe has boen- that the cost of siloing the corn is not as much as cutting, hukking nnd fes-rling or marketing the corn ill ths' usual way. Tln> cash outlay with ns in filling , Ihe silos runs aliout 10 to 50 cents per toll. The cost of filling, however, is a matter which will vary according to conditions and circumstances. Were we putting up a loss amount of silage so that we would not ha«_• to hire teams off the farm, the ■ irst would be considerably loss, and a small force of men generally can be oper- iti'd more economically than a largo one. With cotton seed meal at $25.IK) por ton (it usually costs us $21 to $24.50) anil clover hay at $5.00 per ton, the cost of a days foci for a KKM) lb. fattening steer (or any largir weight, frrr this is tin- maximum amount any steer will oat) would be: 50 lbs. silnge nt $2.50 por ton $.01 5 Ibs. cotton so-ed moal at $25 00 ■1 lbs. clovor hay at $5 01 Total § .11 This ration wc have found will make a gain fully equal to or greater than a half bushel pror day of shock corn, ors-a less amount of corn and all the clover hay the sloor will oat, and at a very much less cost. It is true more gain on hogs following cattle fed shock corn will Ise made, but not nearly enough to make up the difference in the value of the two rations. It must be remembered, too, that considerable benofit to hogs following cattle fed -dingo nnd cotton seed meal will accrue. I logs grow nml do well with no feed but iho droppings, although a less number can be carried than with corn fed cattle. Our gains on cattle thus fed on silage during feeding periods ranging from 4 to 7 months, have lieon from 1.75 to 2.5 lb. per day, and we find that they finish much more evenly, the hair and general appearance are much Ix-tter than corn fed catllo, and especially than cattle which are fid only shock corn. I "ewer cattle get off feed or si-dur. In fact such a thing has almost boon- unknown to us among the si- luge fed oattle. 3. Silage is especially well adapted to carrying stock cattle through the winter. All that is necessary, for stock cattle, where good sheds nre provided, is silage and clovor. alfalfa or oat hay, and you may expect gains of 50 lbs. per month on cattlo for fair quality. .V striking example occured in our noighliorhood during the winter of ItKW-i A. and B. bought together a car load of Texas calvos alxmt Nov. 1, 1003, and divided thom by picking turn nbout. \. put his on a ration of corn silage and clover hay, giving all they would ent of each. B. fed his all thi" fodder and clover hay which they would eat and in addition fed sludled corn, the amount not being accurately
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1905, v. 60, no. 10 (Mar. 11) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA6010 |
Date of Original | 1905 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-01-25 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript |
VOL.LX.
INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 11,1905.
NO. JO
SILOS AND SILAGE.
Tbe Experience of a Noted Ohio Cattla
Feeder.
Feedlxg Silage to Beef Cattle.
By Humphrey Jones, Washington, O.
Ceittle feeders everywhere realize the
importance of tlie cheaper production of
beef. "The profits usually are small nnd
oftentimes there is a loss. Assuming that
the law ofi supply and demand controls
the price of the finished product, there appears to be but two ways to increase the
profits of the feeder— to get tlie feeders
cheaper aud to reduce, the cost of finishing the steers.
The use of silage for steer feeding is a
new thing, rand like all new things it is
apt to have its too enthusiastic advocates
who will make extravagant and rexcessive
claims for it. The subject should be discussed and considered impartially and not
after the fashion of the special pleader or
the advocate of some pet theory. The
ti stimony of those having had experience
on the subject, to be of much value,
should be full and complete—tlie whole
truth, because of partial statement of
facts in regard to any matter may be as
misleading as an nlbsolute misstatement.
Our experience with silage for cattle
feeding purposes began in 1901, at which
time we erected and filled three silos 2G
ft. x -12 ft. having a capacity of about 550
to 000 tons each. This was followed the
next year by the erection of a cement silo
30 ft. x 52 ft. whicli, according to the
rules usually applied to ascertain the capacity of silos of ordinary size, should
hold about 1500 tons, but we have found
that it actually holds about 50 per cent,
more than- all three of our other silos put
togetlner, whicli figured according to the
same rules have the capacities above given, so that our cement silo must hold
something over 2000 tons. The contents
of these silos have each year been fed to
beef cattle. Our silage has been made of
ripe corn grown so as to make the largest
possible yield of grain and nearly ripe soy
Iseans mixed in the silo in the proportion
of about % the former to Vi the latter. In
connection with the silage we have fed
clover, alfalfa and oat hay. Early in our
experience we added ear corn but soon
abandoned that and substituted cotton
seed meal therefore with much better and
more satisfactory results. We have found
that cattle will eat, of the kind of silage
which we have been making, about 5 lbs.
per day per hundred weight up to 1000
lbs. weight, 50 lbs. per head per day l»e-
ing about the maximum amount, whicji a
steer of any size will eat; that when V* lb.
per hundred weight of cotton seed meal is
sprinkled over the silage the cattle will
< at slightly above one-third lb. per hundred weight per day of clover, alfalfa or
oat hay, making for a 1000 lb. steer a
ration of 50 lbs. silage, 5 lbs. cotton soed
moral and 4 Ilss. of hay, anrl for smaller
steers proportionate amounts less. In our
later feeding operations we have settled
upon this kind of ration for fattening cattle. Cattle whicli nre being carried as
stockers we feed little or no cotton soed
meal, and they eat a large proportion of
clover hay, proliably 50 per cent. more.
50 lbs. of corn and soy bean silage, 5 lbs.
cotton- seed meal ami 4 lbs. clover or alfalfa hay for a 1000 lb. steer makes a ration containing about 2.8 lb. protein, 13
ibs. carbohydrates and 1.2 lbs. fat, with
a nutritive ratio of* nbout 1:5.5. The
standard ration is protein 2.5 ll*»., carbohydrates 15 lbs. and fat .5 lbs., nutri
tive ration about 1:0, so that it will be
seen tlint the ration closely approximates
wlutt is thought to be the actual requirements of the steer. Whatever the correct theory may be we know from actual
experience that the above ration makes
the cattledo better and makes more money
for the feed consumed than our former
practice of feeding the cattle all the shock
corn they would eat with occasional allowance of clover hay, or ear corn aud
clover hay. The steers, with this ration,
get about 15 lbs. of grain per head per
day, or about 1 */* lbs. per hundred weight
lor a 1000 lb. steer, l'rof. Henry states
that albout 12 lbs. per day of grain is all
a steer of any size can profitably utilize,
and he cites the fact that, the best English and Scotch fooders use even less than
that amount of grain. We have found
by pretty careful tests that corn grown
as we grow it for silage that will yield 50
bu. of ears per acre will make about 8
tons of silage per acre as taken from the
silo, there of course lning a greater
weight as it goes into the silo. If the
corn were cut green ..according to the practice of many dairymen it would make probably 10 to 12 tons per acre, but we always let our corn get ripe enough to put
in shock and much of it becomes dead
ripo before going into the silos. 50 bu. of
ears equals 3500 Ibs. of ear for each 10,-
000 lbs. of silage which makes the ears
equal about 22 per cent of the total weight
of silage. The soy beans, we think, have a
bout the same proportion of grain to total weight, so that we count our silage 20
per cent, grain. In 50 lbs. of silage n
steer would therefore get 10 lbs. of grain,
and 5 lbs. cotton seed meal added would
make 15 lbs. of grain, or 1 */. lbs. per hundred weight for 1000 lb. steer. An important feature, too, is the fact that the
grain is thoroughly mixed with the roughage so that it. is all well digested, thus
making a smaller grain ration sufficient.
Whether silage, in the case of any particular feeder, should be adopted for steer
feeding, depends upon the net balance of
advantages and disadvantages in his special situation and circumstances. Not all
men, by all means, who handle cattle
should Ibuild silos.
The advantages and disadvantages, as
we have found them, are substantially as
follows:
— The Advantages. —
1. Corn put into the silo has a greater
feeding value than when fed dry.
Siloing does not increase the food content of the corn. You cannot take any
more out of the silo than you put in, nor
as much, but the increase in digestibility
of the whole plant by reason of the heating and fermentation incident to siloing
exceeds the loss of food mine due to that
process (and there is some) so that there
is a net gain. This gain is not much,
running according to the experiments
made at several of the stations nbout 10
to 12 per cent. This is not enough in nnd
of itself to justify ensiloing
the corn; it must lie re
membered that these exi-eriments
have all been conducted upon the basis of
the dry corn plant boing cared for so ns
to lose ns little as possible of its feed
value and palatability, anil that it has
been prepared and fed in the best possible condition for the cattle to get tlie
largost benefit therefrom. This renders
these experiments of little practical value
to the average cattle feeder, lieeause he
has not such means of caring for the dry
corn plant as is usually employed in making these experiments. With throe-
fourths of the feeders iu tlie principal cattle feeding sections of Ohio shock corn
only is fed and the corn stands out in the
field all winter and is hauled to the fee«l
lot as needed. Many shocks twist down
and partially or wholly rot, all are soaked
with the rains and beaten by the winds
aimer
** .
whit
h is
s *.
n
el
of
si
per
Inge
with
thau
**•
*i
•n
in
the
crib
.yijLLd,j-ssf" '■ ■ -*' " i'""4 trA-e*'**-}^
&>*'•' .'.*. \'*~~ ni'; ,,~\v> s"
3* J I \ ----*. %—■ *-* Will.. *■ I
*.'■•!' J , • r ) *■' :•'- '■*"'■•- '•
■*_**. V.sl> us* ■■ suns n .■Tt.sssmi ..- J*—»*** *.*—*-***
"»■,<' -t "I fit-'V- A'?
i-**-l_i..*, . i.U J „„. |
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