At the farm yesterday, the custom harvest crew showed up to chop corn for silage. This is different than harvesting the corn with the combine. We use the silage as part of the feed for the calves we will purchase here shortly for the winter. The calves will then be sold around April or May.
(A bonus to having feeder calves is that we retain a couple to have butchered for beef for our families.)
I was lucky enough that my dear husband took photos, as I had to work at my job when they were here to chop the corn. This blog is a joint effort you will come to find out! :)
The corn is chopped by the cutter. Once it is chopped the grain truck is right there catching the it!
There are two grain trucks continually going.
Once the truck is full, it hauls the silage to the area
we have designated for it.
Then Milton uses the tractor and spreader to even it out.
So the entire process is a pretty rapid one!
If I would have been here, I would have taken a video to post so you could get the full effect!
The first time I witnessed my husband doing this I was both intimidated and impressed!
Intimidated by the growing mound under the tractor and the speed he was driving,
and impressed by his skills at handling that tractor like he came into this world driving one!
(Which secretly I think he was! :)
When all is said and done, there is a nice mound of Silage ready to use for feed!
Of course while mommy is away, the kids must play we see!
Paige on top of the Silage Mound!
Paige & Daddy!
To be continued.............
Check out tomorrows post to see what other fun happened on the Silage Mound!
Thanks for stopping by!
JV
Ok, so does it get moldy if it gets wet, or does that matter to the cows?
ReplyDeleteHeather,
DeleteGREAT QUESTION!
Milton says the corn ferments into silage.
The outside layer does get moldy. Usually if the mold isn't too bad, you do feed it, and thus far we haven't heard any complaints from the cattle!:) haha
If it is too bad, they remove the layer with mold and do not feed it to them.
He also stated that if there are chunks of it that they do not like they will roll it around in the feed bunk and not eat it.
Since they do not eat it the feed bunk must be cleaned out by shovel. I will have to post a picture of Paige & Milton doing this last year! By the way, my sister has fond memories of cleaning out feed bunks at the feedyard we lived at when we were kids! (NOT) I just had to put that in there cause she will read this!)
I love that you asked such an interesting question! Keep them coming!
Thanks!
Julie
www.dictionary.com definition for silage fodder preserved through fermentation in a silo; ensilage
Tell your husband he did a great job taking pictures! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will tell him!
DeleteYes, I remember cleaning the bunks out after it rained, heavy feed and big shovel for 7 or 8 year old kid! Not one of the fondist memories I have!
ReplyDelete