The Farmer. Ensilage Experiments.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 28 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Farmer. Ensilage Experiments.

Tin: Ensilage Commission lias concluded its Bitting* for tbe present. Tha evidence relat ing to tho experiment* at Woburn is eoraewhat intercttirp, a=? soma details wore piven respecting them which p.houM bo avoided in future. The tiiald cf the II ival Aurioaitural Society were conducted at Wobnrn under the direction of Dr. J, Voelcker. Five silos were erected »bore the ground, an 1 three had been opened. These were built of briok and cemented innide, the largest silo being provided with a drain. Two were filled with long crass cut dry, artd the third with clover. Oue grass eilo was opened in Jamuary, and under the boards the silage was found mouldy and unfit for food for 12in. or 19in. deep. Tho interior was steaming, and there was muoh heat in it. Indeed, after a few days one of the eight bnllocks sickened and refused to take it. The second silo had the samo appearance as No. 1, only there waB lesa mould, but the bullocks fed on the *ilage from these eiloa drank throe times as muoh water as those fed on roots. The bullrcta appeared full and blown, but their coiits were sleek. The siiago in the clover silo was verj wot, and had a strong smell, but the drain carried off a dark fluid having b disagreeable odor. Dr. J. Voelcker explained that the intention was to make sour or sweet ensilage, the difference being that No. 1 was weighted at opce, and the other was allowed to heat for three days before being weighted. Tha mould in No. 1 silo he attributed to the presenoe of atmospheric air, and experience showed that with material Mored wet there was little or no mould. The water in tbo si!cn showed a los* of material, due to fermentation, which involved decomposition. He also found that the mo^t valuaVe stuff for feeding would be the plant which had come out moat like its natural state. The basis of the experiments at Woburn was not merely the dry matter, but al-o the nitrogenous compounds; and the animals had 83 much albuminoids, as a mere quantity, in the roots and hay chnff as in the silige. Lord Wfllsingham thought tho animals had more silage than they required, and Mr. Harris was of opinion that it was unfair to use poor grass in a test case. The witness admitted that there was not much practical (kpendpnee to be placed upon chemical analysis for the feeding of animals. If an animal did not like the food it woujd notmake^ood meat. — Live Stock Journal.