Extent of Silo Losses 217 



The mean loss of diy matter in the lower six layers 

 was onh- 3.66 per cent. These figures show^ that it is 

 profitable to make the walls of the silo air-tight, even 

 at large expense. 



The importance of reducing the loss in the silo to 

 the lowest possible percentage is almost self-evident. 

 As this point is capable of mathematical demonstration, 

 it will be interesting and suggestive to calculate what 

 might take place in a hundred- ton silo. In many of 

 the trials which appear to have been conducted under 

 not unusual conditions, a loss as high as 20 per cent of 

 the dry matter put in the silo has been observed. In 

 a hundred -ton silo filled with corn containing 25 per 

 cent of dry matter, or 50,000 pounds, this would amount 

 to the destruction of 10,000 pounds of dry food sub- 

 stance. As the loss falls chiefly on the sugars or other 

 soluble bodies which are wholly digestible, the available 

 nutrients in the fresh material are diminished by an 

 amount of digestible dry matter, equivalent to what 

 w^ould be required by ten milch cows during two 

 months. If, therefore, by good planning and extra 

 care this waste could be reduced three -fourths or even 

 one -half, the food resources for carrying a herd of 

 cows through the winter would be materially increased, 

 from five to seven and one -half tons of timothy hay 

 being the measure of the saving in a hundred-ton silo. 



Ensiling vs. field-curing. — The question is often 

 raised whether ensilage or field - curing is the more 

 wasteful method of preserving a forage crop. Con- 

 siderable study has been given this matter, and the 

 results secured have been taken as a justification of the 



