44 FORAGE CROPS 



SUMMER SILAGE 



lu considering the question of feeding of cattle 

 throughout tlie year with succulent food, the sum- 

 mer silo must be included. There is no doubt but 

 that in many instances, and for many conditions, 

 the summer silo would meet all the requirements 

 of the dairy farmer for this particular form of 

 food. The advantages of the silo are, chiefly, a 

 saving of labor in the season when it is specially 

 needed for other work, and providing a uniform 

 food supply without regard to the character of the 

 season. 



Whether the use of the summer silo will result 

 in materially reducing the cost of the ration, 

 is a question that will have to be determined by 

 the actual conditions on a particular farm. To 

 judge from the reports on cost of silage, there 

 would undoubtedly be a saving in actual cost of 

 food, providing the silos were so constructed as to 

 result in a minimum loss of dry matter. It must be 

 remembered, however, that in the construction of 

 a silo for summer use the surface areas of the 

 silo should be less per animal than for winter 

 silage, owing to the more rapid fermentation 

 of the silage in hot weather. At least double the 

 depth, or about four inches, should be removed 

 daily, instead of two inches, as in the case of 

 winter silage. 



