PRACTICAL SILO CONSTRUCTION 17 



SIZE OF SILO TO ERECT 



The diameter of the silo should not be larger than 

 will enable the silage to be fed from the entire top 

 each day. If the top is not fed out every twenty- 

 four hours the silage is apt to mold; so, in construc- 

 tion, the number of animals to be fed from same 

 should be the greatest consideration in planning the 

 size. 



A cubic foot of silage will vary in weight from 35 

 to 50 pounds. In estimating, 40 pounds to the cubic 

 foot may be taken as the weight, with safety, in 

 approximately determining the storage capacity of 

 the silo. 



The amount fed to a cow each day varies from 40 

 to 60 pounds, when used with other feed ; hence, by 

 employing a safe average of 50 pounds daily for each 

 animal, it is possible to estimate the best size of silo 

 to erect for the purpose, as each animal at this rate 

 would consume three-quarters of a ton in each thirty 

 days. It is always better to err slightly on over- 

 capacity than otherwise, as the settling of the silage 

 that takes place after filling will vary with the con- 

 dition of the fodder at the time of filling; so this can- 

 not be positively estimated. This is, of course, only 

 in reference to the height of the silo, as the layer 

 that is to be removed each day in feeding, to prevent 

 molding of the ensilage, can be accurately deter- 

 mined so as to consume a layer of two or three 

 inches in depth daily. 



