ABSTRACTS
How to make grass silage. C. B. BENDER and E. S. SAVAGE (1939), Hoard's
Dairyman, 84, No. 11, 337 and 352
THE question regarding the use of grasses for legumes—fodder crops containing little
or no starch or sugar, necessary for proper ensiling—for silage, has recently been
receiving considerable attention. The authors of this paper make some very practical
suggestions which are of interest to the Indian cattle breeder and feeder.
Grass and/or legumes should be cut and ensiled within half a day. Mature or over-
ripe grasses should be ensiled immediately after cutting, whereas slightly immature
grasses may first be permitted to wilt. It is, however, better to put fodder into the
silo too wet than too dry, therefore, underwilt rather than overwilt immature grasses,
and if they are slightly moistened with rain, so much the better. If grasses are ensiled
too dry, they will heat and moulds will grow rather profusely, resulting in extensive
spoilage. The proper moisture content for satisfactory results in the ensiling of any
fodder is between 60 and 70 per cent at the time it is put into the silo.
Any ordinary silage cutter which is in good working order will serve satisfactorily.
The knives should be set for ¼ to ½ in. cuts. Longer cuts do not pack well. This results
in aeration of large portions of the fodder. Mould spores are always present in such
material and, with an adequate supply of air, will grow very readily. Silage badly
moulded is unfit for use as a stock feed.
Fodders put into the silo must be very well packed in order to exclude air and pre-
vent spoilage. Carbohydrates, such as sugars or starches, are necessary from which the
lactic and acetic acid which preserves the feed may be produced. These acids result
from bacterial fermentation of the carbohydrates mentioned. Grasses, cereals and
legumes have little or no such carbohydrate material in them. For best results, there-
fore, when such fodders are used either molasses must be added as a source of carbo-
hydrate for bacterial action, or a certain amount of acid must be added in order to pre-
vent all bacterial action and thereby preserve the fodder. The authors recommend
phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ). They suggest that satisfactory silage is possible without a
preservative, but the fodder must be of the proper composition with regard to moisture
content and must be very well packed.
Ordinary cane molasses or a good grade of phosphoric acid may be used. Cane
molasses should weigh between 11 and 12 lb. per gallon (Imperial gallon approximately
10/8 times this). Acid is easier to apply, but it may prove expensive and result in un-
desirable corrosion of the cutter. Molasses provides considerable food value in the
form of unfermented molasses or in the form of the acid produced in the fermentation.
Phosphoric acid provides phosphate for the soil through the manure and is, therefore,
of some value other than the preservation of the fodder. It is suggested that the follow-
ing amounts of molasses be used:
1. Very immature cereals, 40 lb. per ton * fodder,
2. Very mature grasses, 40 lb. per ton *,
3. Very immature grasses, 50 lb. per ton*,
4. Legumes mixed with grasses or cereals (greater than 20 per cent legumes),
60 lb. per ton.*
Molasses should be diluted somewhat and added by pouring this solution on the fodder
as it goes through the cutter. Phosphoric acid should be diluted to three or four times
its volume with water and also added directly to the feed while being cut; neither
material should be permitted to come into direct contact with the cutter. Experience
is the best teacher in this respect as also in the success of making silage from such
materials.
Surface spoilage will usually not start until after two days. The silo should be
filled accordingly. The fodder should be very thoroughly tramped or packed during
the filling operation. If it is not intended that the silage be fed immediately then the
* 2,000 lb.
( 121 )