SILOS AND SILAGE IN COLORADO 
(By H. E. DVORACHEK 
PREFACE 
Although the silo could be found on American farms nearly 
four decades ago, its use in Colorado agriculture dates back only 
a few years. It is true that there have been a few silos built in 
the state previously, but the number was too small to have even a 
pioneering influence towards present interest in silo construction. 
Eastern and middle western farmers came to Colorado and brought 
with them their experience with silage, and it was they who built 
our first silos. The plain-stave and wooden-hooped types were 
used most, as they were the common silo during the early days. 
The pit silo is of more local origin. 
In the fall of 1909 , the Dairy Division of the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, stationed one of their senior dairymen, Mr. A. 
K. Risser, in Colorado to look over the field with a view of placing 
a man permanently to co-operate with the Animal Husbandry De¬ 
partment of the Agricultural College in developing interest in 
dairying and silo construction. From this time dates the beginning 
of active interest in the silo in Colorado. , 
During the three years of co-operative work, some seventy 
concrete silos were constructed under the supervision of the U. S. 
dairymen or college men. Other work, such as silo meetings and 
silo trains, did much to stimulate interest) Mr. P. V. Maris, one 
of the U. S. dairymen, published a bulletin on “Silage Feeding and 
Silo Building ' 1 in 1912 . So great has been the demand for this 
bulletin that it has long been exhausted, and because of the con¬ 
stant and growing inquiries for information on this subject it was 
deemed advisable to issue another; therefore this bulletin on “Silos 
and Silage in Colorado." 
This bulletin will set forth some of the advantages of silage as 
they apply to Colorado conditions, and the essentials to be consid¬ 
ered in the selection of a suitable silo. Various types of silos com¬ 
monly used will be discussed as to their merits from an unpreju¬ 
diced viewpoint. The crops commonly used will be taken up only 
from the standpoint of their adaptability for making a silage of 
good quality. The making of silage will be treated in a manner 
which will enable the reader to get at the cost and economical util- 
