Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1912 — DOES IT PAY TO SHRED SOVERT [ARTICLE]

DOES IT PAY TO SHRED SOVERT

By C. J. Fi Iweber,

of I H C Service

Bureau

Shredded stover increases its feeding value. Prof. Henry of the University of Wisconsin has conducted experiments which show that shredded stover is about 24 per cent more valuable whpn fed to milch cows than it is in the uncut form. It is also estimated that about 25 per cent of the feeding value of corn stalks is lost by allowing the shocks to stand in the field tw'o months. Allowing corn to stand in the field not only decreases its value, but it increases the difficulties of the cattle. Just remember that every time you carry an armful of stalks into the barn 20 per cent of the digestible nutriments contained in the feed go for the production of physical energy necessary for doing external work, 43 per cent is used Jor keeping up the body, and 27 per cent is returned in the milk paik If you handle your corn crop properly you will find 37 per cent of the total nutriment in the stalks, and 63 per cent in the ear, but if you allow the shocks to stand in the field to be beaten by the winter’s storms, you can expect to lose anywhere from 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the total feeding value of the stalks. On the average acre from tw r o to thred tons of stover are grown. In the stalks produced on an acre of average corn, there are approximately 85 pounds of protein, 1,500 pounds of carbohydrates, and 22 pounds of ether extract. A steer weighing 1,000 pounds requires onehalf of a pound of protein, 6 pounds of carbohydrates, and about one-tenth of a pound of ether extract daily. Figured to an exactness, there are carbohydrates enough in an acre of corn to last a steer ten months, ether extract enough to keep him in proper condition for eight months, and protein in sufficient quantity to sustain him for six months. Probably the only argument against shredding is the cost of preparation. When figured in dollars and cents, the cost of pushing and shredding with a machiiie is practically the same as for hand work. Figures compiled by men who feed whole stalks, by users of shredded stover, and by the owners of machines give the following facts; Cost of husking 25 acres of shocked corn, and getting the fodder in a stack. The quality of corn used for the basis of the following tables is slightly above the average, forty bushels to the acre being taken as a standard. The cost of labor is figured at current rates. Cost of husking 1,000 bushels by hand at 4 cents a bushel. .S4O 00 Board for man during husking, averaging 50 bushels per day, for 21 days at $4.50 per week ..... is 50 Cost of handling husked corn and fodder from the field, men and team, 5 days at $2.00 per day each for the men,and $1.50 for the team.. 27 50Board for 2 men for 5 days, at 75 cents per day.... 7 50 Board for team for 5 days at 50 cents per day 2 50 Total cost qf getting corn in l crib and fodder in stack....s9l no Cost of husking and shredding 25 acres of corn, figuring the yield at 40 bushels per acre, and an average day’s work at 800 bushels. A ten-roll husker and shedder working under ideal conditions has husked 1,000 bushels of corn in a day, but to be conservative we are reducing these figures considerably. We are also figuring-the cost of doing the husking and shredding strictly on a bushel basis. In many localities owners of huskers and shredders prefer to work by the day rather than by the bushel. For hire of husker and shredder, including the services of engine, 1,000 bushels at 4 cents S4O 0d Three men pitching in the field, 1% days at $2.00 each per day 7 50 Six men to haul stover from the field, 1% days at $2.00 each per day.... 15 00 Six teams and wagons for drawing stover ti the machine, 1% days at $1.50 per day per team 11 25Fuel 5 6(1 One man for shoveling corn into crib, 1% days at $2.00 per day 2 50 Board for fourteen men, 1% days at 75 cents per day..,. 13 15 Feed required for six teams, 1% days at 50 cents per team ...................... 875 - Total $98.75 $98.75 minus $91.00 equals $7.75 or cost of shredded stover. Since two tons of stover are produced on an acre, and twenty-five acres are shredded, fifty tons of shredded stover are secured. As $7.75 was the cost of the shredded stover, the expense of doing the work with a machine when distributed amounts to approximately 16 cents per ton more than the cost of husking by hand and of stacking the corn stalks. Besides less space is required for storing the shredded stover. There is practically no loss or waste of leaves or husks, and the stalks are. in an excellent condition for bedding. They not only act as an absorbent, a pound of absorbent stover absorbing 2.5 pound of liquid, but the vegetable matter when returned to the sod! forms humus. The fertilizing value of the stalks harvested ou an acre are worth about $7.00, or about $175.00 worth of fertilizer can be returned to the field.