July, 1933] Roughage Production in New Hampshire — 27 



Type and size of silo: 



Data indicate that the silo is rarely used on farms with less than 

 eight cows. The difficulties in the way of machinery for growing and 

 harvesting the crop are usually too great for the smaller dairyman to 

 overcome. Where two or three can cooperate, owning the machinery 

 together, it is still possible, however, to grow silage economically. 



The new steel, hollow tile and concrete slab silos seem to supply the 

 larger producer with a permanent low waste silage container but for 

 the smaller dairyman are still too expensive. 



The square inside silo, so long as it is in good condition and does 

 not occupy space needed for hay, offers a cheap means of supplying 

 silage. Unless kept fairly tight, however, the waste from decay is fre- 

 quently very large, and losses because of extra corn, labor and ma- 

 terials in growing and preserving are sometimes sufficient to make it 

 desirable to put up a better silo. 



No data were obtained on the cost and upkeep of silos. However, 

 with hay at or near its present low level, it will not pay to raise silage 

 at all unless costs are kept at the lowest figure possible consistent with 

 good keeping ability. On most of our dairy farms there is sufficient 

 timber to supply stave material for a satisfactory silo and keep the 

 cost for materials under a hundred dollars. 



The tendency in size of silo seems to be toward a smaller diameter. 

 The 12 or 14 foot silos are the more common, even with the larger herds. 

 There is no chance for surface molding because of slow feeding. With 

 smaller silos the cost of green feed may be reduced by feeding summer 

 silage during the season when pastures are dried up. Spoilage losses 

 in hot weather when feeding is slower are also less. 



Power costs for harvesting and filling: 



Based on assumed values for labor in silo filling there seems to be 

 little advantage in cost whether the poA^er is tractor or stationary. The 

 somewhat greater cost of operation of the tractor is offset by the longer 

 time with smaller cutters and less power in the case of stationary 

 «engines. (Table 23) 



Table 23. Harvesting cnid filling costs with various kinds of power. 



* Costs in this study include labor, horses and equipment at assumed 

 rates; machine, cutter, power, gas, oil and repairs, and materials at cost. 

 Buildings, land and manure are not included. 



With labor already available, cash outlay may be reduced by the 

 use of the smaller stationary outfit. If labor has to be hired, the larger 

 outfit would be advisable. 



