t 



not be opened until normal temperature is reached. About 5 

 per cent, of the silage is wasted at the sides and the top or at 

 the door when there is a door, on account of mouldiness ; 

 and more, if air is not properly excluded. To make 60 Ibs. 

 of silage in India 90 or 100 Ibs. of green fodder are 

 required. 



1.076. Heavy pressure and trampling and quick filling 

 are no longer considered essential for getting best results 

 in the making of silage. The mass may be allowed to settle 

 of itself. When filling the mass should be made level and 

 well pressed into the corners. It should be tight at the sides. 

 Even a wooden cover over the top is not needed. A simple 

 covering of cut straw answers. A wooden silo above ground 

 is far better than any stone or brick building under or above 

 ground. Stacking of silage is not recommended for this 

 country. The waste from decay in stack-silage is great. 



1.077. Silage is specially valuable for milch-cattle. It 

 increases the flow of milk, makes the milk richer, and sup- 

 plies food at a time of the year when fodder is scarce, the 

 excess production of the rainy season being utilized for 

 silage. That fibre is rendered more digestible by ensilage 

 is the point which is of great importance in considering the 

 value of silage as food as compared to hay. 



1.078. Large sized cattle require nearly 30 seers of hay 

 or silage per day and smaller sized cattle 20 seers or less ; 

 but the silage-fed cattle will milk better than hay-fed ones, 



^the milk being richer in cream and the butter sweeter and 

 richer in colour. The cost of feeding cattle with silage 

 is less than half of feeding them with hay or with straw- 

 chaff and bran or oil-cake. An acre of green fodder, say, 

 Guinea grass, may weigh 10 tons. This will make 3 tons 

 .of dry hay, but 7 tons of silage. The 3 tons of dry hay will 

 keep 168 head of cattle for a day or i cow for 168 days at 

 40 'Ibs. a day, while the 7 tons of silage will keep 392 head 

 of cattle for a day, or i cow for 392 days. 



