222 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Effect of Settling on Measuring Silage 



Silage settles a great deal, but this settling nearly all takes 

 place during the first two weeks after filling. Should the silo be 

 filled and measured by the customary method for tons capacity 

 within the same day, it would appear to contain at least 25 per 

 cent more silage than if it were not measured for two weeks after 

 being filled. Yet, practically the same amount of silage is in the 

 silo. This is because the silage has settled so much during the 

 two weeks. 



The rule which at present is in vogue for determining the 

 weight of silage in silos has been made up on the assumption 

 that the depth is determined after two days of settling. A new 

 one is proposed in this bulletin which will apply as accurately, 

 if the depth of the silage is determined the day that filling ceases. 



Although it is known that measuring silage by the cubic 

 foot and computing the weight is very unreliable, there are times 

 when no other method is available, and then measuring is recom- 

 mended. 



Weight of Silage Per Cubic Foot 



In 1889 King, of the Wisconsin Experiment Station, fur- 

 nished a table giving the weight of silage per cubic foot at vari- 

 ous depths. This has been quite universally adopted. His table 

 gave the weight per cubic foot after the silage had settled for 

 forty-eight hours. Both silo owners and manufacturers have 

 used these weights, but in a majority of cases they have over- 

 looked the fact that the silage must settle two days after filling 

 before measuring their silage, and hence they have overrated 

 their silos. 



A New Table of Weights 



The Department of Agricultural Engineering proposes a 

 new table of weights which assumes that the silage is in a normal 

 condition when put into the silo; that the silo is filled without 

 delay, allowed to settle from twelve to twenty-four hours, and 

 then refilled; and that while filling, two men are kept in the 

 silo tramping. The depth of silage should be determined at the 

 close of the second filling. 



This new table is made up on the assumption that King's is 

 correct but cannot be conveniently used. It is a ratio of King's 



