36 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



wise required. It provides excellent succulent feed with which to supplement 

 or replace summer pastures that are short or spoiled by drought. 



Silo Troubles Not Serious. Mold, due to improperly mixing and packing 

 the silage at time of filling, or not feeding it at a rate to keep the surface from 

 spoiling, and freezing in winter are the chief difficulties experienced with silos. 

 Moldy silage is injurious and must not be fed. Frozen silage is dangerous and 

 should not be fed until after being thawed out, when it is perfectly wholesome 

 if fed before mold develops. In winter time one should be careful to keep the 

 surface level or the outer edges slightly lower. Silage freezes from the top and 

 more about the edges than in the center. Covers to keep out the cold made with 

 straw or blankets are helpful. 



Location of the Silo. The silo to protect the silage from freezing should 

 be located if possible at the south side of the barn. In extremely cold sections 

 it may be advisable to build the silo inside the barn. The diameter of the silo 

 should be such that it can be fed down at the rate of i l / 2 to 2 inches over the 

 entire surface each day. This rate of feeding is necessary to prevent mold and 

 to insure the best quality of feed. A silo of small diameter is most suitable 

 for summer feeding. 



When to Fill the Silo. Corn makes the best silage when the majority 

 of the ears are dented or are just beginning to glaze. If corn is put into the 

 silo before this stage of maturity is reached, the silage becomes very sour or acid 

 and will have a low feeding value. 



If the crop is allowed to get over-ripe or dry it does not pack well and being 

 deficient in moisture is almost certain to produce moldy silage. 



Moisture Necessary for Good Silage. When the corn becomes dry from 

 being allowed to get ripe or due to frost, good silage can be made from it if 

 water is added at the time of filling. No definite rule can be given as to the 

 right amount of water to add. A sufficient amount should be used to insure 

 having the corn well packed. The water should be added during the process of 

 filling, otherwise it may fail to reach all the parts and thus cause moldy silage. 

 Water can be run into the blower or distributed in the silo by means of a hose. 



Length to Cut Corn for Silage. Silage is usually cut in l / 2 -mch lengths. 

 If cut longer than this the cows refuse to eat the coarser portions of stalks and 

 thus cause waste. Dull cutter knives increase the amount of power required to 

 cut the corn and also leave it in a shredded condition which makes it difficult to 

 properly pack the silage. 



Distribution of Corn in Silo Important. It is very essential that the 

 cut corn be well distributed at the time of filling. If this is not done the heavier 

 portions will fall in one place and the higher material in another. This will cause 

 the mass of silage to settle unevenly and spoiled silage will result. Thor- 

 oughly mixed fodder and corn are also desirable to insure best results in 

 feeding. 



Silage Must Be Well Packed. During the process of filling the cut ma- 

 terial should be kept slightly higher at the edges than in the center and should 

 be well tramped against the sides where the friction of the silage against the 

 wall tends to prevent settling. Tramping in the center of the silo is not neces- 



