Ensilage for Summer Use

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 November 1913, Page 4

Ensilage for Summer Use

In reply to a query in the Breeders' Gazette as to whether summer" feeding of ensilage is profitable, Mr X. S. Aiayo, of the Polytechnic Institute, Virginia, says: — "Whethoi" it is profitable to feed silage in summer will depend very largely upon the conditions of the pastures. If the pastures _ are o-ood, cattle will eat so little silage that it will not pay to feed it. 'When the pastures get short, especially in a dry time, silage is almost the only salvation unless one has soiling crops to feed. Imsihige is especially valuable in summer for dairy rattle. "VV e have a special silo for use with our dairy herd here and find it very valuable. Just- as soon as a dry period comes on and the pastures begin to fail we begin feeding silage as the cattle will cat it readily and the millc flow is kept up. Tn planning for summer silage feeding it is important that the silo be of small diameter, so that a layer of at least three inches of surface silage can be fed daily, as in. warm weather silage decomposes quickly.