30 



HOW TO BUILD A SILO. 



One of the common mistakes made in silo construction is that 

 of making it too large in diameter for the amount of stock to be 

 fed silage. Whenever silage heats and molds badly on or below 

 the feeding surface heavy loss in feeding value is being sustained, 

 and in such cases the herd should be increased so that the losses 

 may be prevented by more rapid feeding. (King.) 



In this connection the following table furnished by the Animal 

 Husbandry Department of the Nebraska Station will be of interest. 

 It will be noted that for summer feeding at least 15 dairy cows, 

 or 21 beef cattle, for instance, will be necessary to consume the 

 525 pounds of silage that should be removed daily from a 10-foot 

 diameter surface to keep it from spoiling. In winter, 6 or 7 cows 

 would be sufficient. 



*If the silo is to be used for winter feeding only, it will require 

 only one-half as many of each kind of stock to keep the silage in 

 good condition as where it is used for summer feeding. 



The Nebraska Station also gives the following daily ration of 

 silage for various kinds and weights of stock. It should be re- 

 membered, however, that th4e amounts are only approximate 

 and vary considerably in different sections or under special tests. 

 At the end of a 90-day test at the Brookings, S. D„ station !n 

 1912, yearling steer's were consuming 70 pounds of silage per head 

 daily. (See page 125.) 



