BULLETIN 743. 



the soiling system lies in the fact that with the latter it is often neces- 

 sary to feed a portion of each crop after it has matured too much 

 to he palatable, and probably to start on the succeeding one while it 

 is <till a little too given. It is difficult to plan exactly so as to pre- 

 vent these conditions. With silage, however, the crop can be cut 

 nt the best stage for feeding and preserved at that point. 



One of the most important- uses of silage in the summer is as a 

 supplement for short or poor pasture. This condition frequently 

 occurs as a result of long-continued dry weather. Under such cir- 

 cumstances even the most carefully planned soiling system may fail. 

 It is then that the greatest value of the summer silo is realized, for 

 with the silo full of well-matured silage grown in the previous season, 

 an abundant supply of succulent feed for the cows is available, re- 

 gardless of weather conditions. 



When it is not necessary to use the silo during the summer, it can 

 be sealed up and the silage preserved for winter use. This prevents 

 any waste in feed. 



One point, however, must be kept in mind in planning the summer 

 silo. 1 This is the diameter of the silo in relation to the number of 

 cows to be fed and the quantity to be fed to each cow. Silage enough 

 must be fed daily to prevent excessive surface fermentation. As a 

 general rule, a cow under summer conditions will consume about 20 

 pounds a day. On this basis the diameter of the silo in reference to 

 the number of cows to be fed in summer will be as follows: 



L'O co\vs_'_ __8 feet in diameter. 



'',{) CO\YS__ TO feer in diameter. 



40 fow$__ 1l2 feet in diameter. 



Inasmuch as 8 feet is about the minimum diameter of a silo in best 

 practice, it will be seen that the summer silo for supplementing pas- 

 ture has its best application in herds of "20 cows or more. 



WINTER FEEDING. 



The problems involved in winter feeding are usually distinctly dif- 

 ferent from those of summer feeding. Pasture (or green feed), usu- 

 ally the basis of summer feeding, is not available. Broadly speak- 

 ing, there are two factors involved in this problem, first, to satisfy 

 the needs of the cow and, second, to suit the pocketbook. The cow 

 must have an ample supply of feed of a palatable nature, and this 

 feed must be -upplied at a price which will permit a profit on the 

 feeding operation. 



Viewed from an economic standpoint, there are some fundamental 

 considerations which should first receive attention. In general farm 

 practice it is advisable, so far a^ is economical, to use the feeds pro- 



1 S' <> runners' I'.nllclin No. r>sn " I lonirmiKic Silos." 



