Show Corn Coln Silage Good For Dairy Cattle Says Geo B B. B Caine T In the middle west a dairy I farmer without corn silage will usually apologize for being out of i what is considered there the most i Important feed In Utah where I alfalfa can be produced much more I i cheaply silage is not considered i quite so essential and yet it isone is isI I one ne of the best crops that can be grown for milk production I I Work Vork done by Carrol Carrel at the i Utah Experiment Station several years ago and reported in Bulletin Bullet Bullet- in No corresponds very closely closely close close- J ly Iy with results recently p published from Utah Station Bulletin No I When fed with grain and alfalfa alfalfa alfalfa fa to dairy cows it requires 21 2 to 3 pounds of corn silage to re replace replace replace re- re place one pound of alfalfa A common rule for feeding is 3 I pounds of silage per day for each pounds of of the cow Each cow then would receive receive re re- re- re from 20 to 40 pounds per day depending on the size of the I I animal In sections where market milk is being produced silage I should be he fed carefully to avoid j I any possibility of its tainting the thel l milk Usually If it is fed right after milking and properly cleaned cleaned clean clean- ed up before the next milking and the barn aired thoroughly there should be very little or no trouble I Corn silage should not be fed fedI to calves younger than 8 to 10 I months as it may help to cause scours It is a very satisfactory I feed for heifers from 10 months or older and it has a higher replacement replacement replacement re re- re- re reI I placement value than 3 to 1 as given alone At the Missouri Station as recorded recorded recorded rec rec- in Bulletin No yearling yearling yearling yearl yearl- ing heifers were fed alfalfa and corn silage at will Each he heifer er erate I ate pounds of silage and 66 pounds of alfalfa per day On this ration these heifers gained 24 of a pound more than normal The alfalfa fed in Missouri was not so bright and palatable as most Utah alfalfa which difference difference difference differ differ- ence might affect the rate of consumption consumption consumption con con- somewhat There are very little available data on the feeding of corn silage with alfalfa hay alone Most experiments experiments experiments ex ex- have grain in the ra ra- tion A few cows that are being fed at the Utah Station on alfalfa and corn silage only at the present present present pres pres- ent time show very satisfactory production This is one of the most economical rations that is aI available a- a for the Utah farmer I Dairymen who contemplate planting corn for silage may obtain obtain obtain ob ob- tain information regarding the time to plant and the varieties best suited for any particular lo location location location lo- lo cation by asking a county agent or by writing to the Extension Service Utah State Agricultural college at Logan Utah |