GRASS SILAGE 11 



percent, or about one seventh of the total dry matter stored as green grass. The 

 total loss was much larger than this, but since approximately seven eighths of 

 it was water, the loss in dry matter is of much greater significance. The causes 

 of the loss in dry matter, with their relative importance, were: 



Approximate percentage 



Spoilage at top of silo 13 



Fermentation loss 7 



Seepage from base 80 



Loss from seepage was largely eliminated in 1938. At date of writing, the silo' 

 has not been opened so the loss from spoilage at the top for this past season is 

 not yet known. Fermentation loss cannot be ascertained until the silage has all 

 been fed out. 



The losses were distributed among the several constituents of the dry substance 

 as follows: 



Approximate percentage 



Carbohydrates 33 



Protein 30 



Fiber 22 



Minerals 14 



Fat No loss 



Chemical Composition of Various Kinds of Silage 



Table 2 shows the composition of various kinds of grass and legume silage, 

 along with the average composition of corn silage for comparative purposes. 



Table 2. — Compo.sition of Legume and Grass Silages Stored in 

 Massachusetts in 1936 and 1937 



Percentage in Fresh Silage Carotene, 



Kind of Silage ^ International 



Water Protein Fat Fiber Carbo- Minerals Units 

 hydrates per Pound 



Timothy- Alfalfa-Phosphoric 



Acid 72.8 4.1 .9 8.5 10.7 2.9 9710 



Timothy-Molasses 74.2 3.0 .7 10.6 10.0 1.5 5490 



Sudan Grass-Soy Beans-Mol- 

 asses 75.4 3.4 .5 8 5 10.0 2.1 7980 



Alfalfa-Molasses 76.4 3.6 1.0 8.7 8.2 2 10210 



Orchard Grass-Clover-Molas- 

 ses 75.9 2.6 1.0 8.0 10 6 1.9 8440 



Rye-Molasses 76.3 2.4 .7 8.4 10.4 18 — * 



Mixed Grasses-Molasses ... . 74.0 2.7 .9 90 11.5 1.8 — * 



Corn Silage (for comparison) 73.3 2.1 .8 7.1 14.9 1.8 8140 



(Average of a large number 

 of samples) 



*Not determined. 



Four of the samples were sent in by interested farmers; the other three were 

 from the State College farm. As would be expected with such a variety of mat- 

 erials, there was considerable variation in composition. In general, grass and 



