JOTO£ OF AGBIQIITIML ESEARCH 



Vol. XV Washington, D. C, December i6, 191 8 No. 11 



BACTERIOIvOGICAIv STUDIES ON ALFALFA SIEAGE „t'^' 



By O. W. Hunter «OTan» 



Dairy Bacteriologist, Kansas State Agricultural Experiment Station O.AJ.: >. 



INTRODUCTION 



The practicability of making silage from alfalfa has been under inves- 

 tigation at this Station for several years. During the spring of 1914 

 the Dairy Department erected seven small stave silos, estimated to hold 

 10 tons each, for experimental purposes. The silos were filled with the 

 following combinations : 



Alfalfa alone. 



Alfalfa 10 parts and com chop i part. 



Alfalfa 20 parts and blackstrap molasses i part. 



Alfalfa 10 parts and alfalfa-molasses feed i part. 



Alfalfa 4 parts and straw i part. 



Alfalfa 2 parts and green rye i part. 



Rye alone. 



In the spring of 191 5 the silos were again filled, but with the following 

 combinations : 



Alfalfa alone. 



Alfalfa 20 parts and blackstrap molasses i part. 



Alfalfa 10 parts and blackstrap molasses i part. 



Alfalfa 10 parts and com chop i part. 



Alfalfa 6 parts and sweet-sorghum stover i part. 



Alfalfa 2 parts and green rye i part. 



Rye alone. 



The exact ratio of the alfalfa and supplements in some cases varied 

 slightly from the general plan outlined. Detailed information relative 

 to this ratio and to filling the silos may be found in the report of Reed 

 and Fitch {15)} Chemical analysis of the silage was made each year 

 by the Department of Chemistry, while the microbial content was deter- 

 mined by the Department of Bacteriology. 



Reed and Fitch (75, p. j) concluded from these investigations that — 



(i) Alfalfa will make a fairly good quality of silage, and it will be readily eaten by 

 cattle if fed within a few months after being siloed. 



' Reference is made by number (italic) to "Literature cited," p. 591-592. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XV, No. 11 



Washington, D. C. Dec. 11, 1918 



qq Key No. Kans.-i6 



(571) 



