422 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Nov., 1922. 



ADVANTAGES OF THE SILAGE SYSTEM. 



By E. Parish, B.Sc, Vice-Principal, School of Agriculture, Glen. 



The Basis of Development. 



Though the silo has been known i'l South Africa for at least twenty 

 years, the progress made in silo construction and in the use of silage 

 preserved in other ways must be considered very slow. There is, 

 however, every reason to believe that it the great advantages of silage 

 were more widely realized by stock owners there would be many more 

 silos in use in the Union than there are to-day. We are accustomed 

 to look forward to the tiine when this will become a great cattle 

 country, excelling in the production ot lioth milk and meat. In this 

 connection it is safe to claim that one of the most important factors 

 necessary to such a development is a sound system of feeding, and 

 that the basis of this will be silage. There is probably no country 

 where the making of silage promises greater advantages than in South 

 Africa. As a feed for the winter season, which is both nourishing and 

 succulent as well as cheaply prepared, silage is unequalled. It is also 

 well suited for use in periods of drought, can be economically produced 

 and stored, and is readily available when required. 



The use of silage permits of more stock being carried per acre, 

 and the returns from high-priced land are increased. Silage is mainly 

 a cattle food and may be used in the production of either milk or meat. 

 But there are possibilities, too, in connection with its use for sheep. 

 Many losses of stock occur almost every year in some part of the 

 country through drought and lack of pasturage on over-stocked areas. 

 These might he greatly lessened if silage were provided in season. 



An Extended Maize-belt. 



The maize-belt might be greatly extended when the crop is grown 

 for silage, as a considerably shorter period of growth is required and 

 advantage may be taken of late rains to plant for this purpose. 

 Again, maize crops damaged by hail or frost and stunted by drought, 

 as frequently happens, may be made into good silage. In the absence 

 of silos, the use made of drought-stricken, frosted, and hail-damaged 

 crops is practically nil. Every year there are considerable areas 

 where the maize ciop is partially destroyed by one of these three 

 factors. 



With reference to extension of the maize area in growing maize 

 for silage, from one-fifth to one-fourth of the total area of the country' 

 has a rainfall of between 10 and 20 inches annually, and this is 

 ordinarily insufficient for maturing a maize crop for grain. Where 

 maize is grown only for silage this rainfall is usually enough to grow 

 a crop giving a fair yield of fodder per acre. 



Earlier Maturity of Stock. 



With a wider adoption of the silage system and more winter 

 feeding, especially of young stock, earlier maturity could be secured 



