In making silage for horses the corn is allowed to stand until nearly out of the milk, as better results have thus been obtained than when it is cut greener. The silo is filled as rapidly as possible, and when full is allowed to settle for four or five days, when it is again filled. Care is taken to pack the silage tightly around the walls.
The silo is opened about November 15th, when the herds have been brought in from the pastures. Care is taken to feed the horses lightly at first so that they may become accustomed to the new food.
A large bin has been built, connecting with a room below the doors of the silo. This bin is filled from time to time with a mixture of four parts of hay and one of straw, cut about 3 inches long, by being run through a silage machine. The silage is always mixed with this cut hay and straw before feeding. The proportions are about one to five of silage by weight. By cutting the hay and straw, the amount wasted is reduced to a minimum.
The corn is never taken out of the silo before it is ready to be used. The entire top is removed each day to a depth of about two inches. Any silage that is spoilt is thrown away. The silage and hay-straw are mixed thoroughly by forking over several times in the room, already referred to. By doing this the horses do not obtain all the silage at one time. Any grain that is fed is put in the manger with the silage.
The amount of ensilage fed to different horses varies with the animal. It is found that no two horses eat the same amount and they are never given more than they will eat. The average amount fed will be stated in each case below.
Aged stallions, used for breeding purposes, receive during the winter season about 24 pounds of silage per day. This is divided into three feeds, morning, noon and night. Besides this they are fed long hay and grain. During the breeding season they do not get any silage, as it has been found that if it is fed at that time there is difficulty in getting mares in foal and in raising a large percentage of colts. The reason for this is not known.
Two-year old stallions receive about 20 pounds of silage per day with their other feed. Yearling stallions receive about 15 pounds, with grain and hay. Mares with foals receive about 20 pounds, and also grain and hay while the colts are sucking. This is reduced to about 15 pounds, fed twice a day in the stable, after the colts are weaned.
Mares and geldings, from one year up, run in a herd together. They are fed morning and night about 15 pounds per day. During the day, if weather permits, they are turned out in a pasture and fed hay upon the ground.
Colts, soon after they have learned to eat grain, are fed a little silage in the box stalls with their mothers. For this purpose small feed boxes are put in each stall near the mangers, where the mares eat. After being weaned the colts are fed about 7 pounds of silage a day with the grain. Alfalfa hay also is put in a rack in the yard, in which the colts are turned out each day, and they eat as much of this as they care for.