Silage investigation

Abstract

More than one hundred years ago people began the practice of preserving green feed in silos. In this country the first silo above ground was built in 1875, in Michigan. From this beginning the use of the silo has spread rapidly until today it may be considered a well-established feature in American farm economy, not only in dairy section, but in general, where any kind of live-stock farming is practiced. While silos and silage have been in general use for a number of years there are several important questions that do not seem to be fully and satisfactorily answered. A series of experiments were carried on by the Dairy Department of the Missouri Agricultural College during the winters of 1913-1914 and 1914-1915. The work for 1913-1914 was carried on by D.G. Magruder and the results may be found in his thesis for that year. The work for this thesis is a continuation of that started by Magruder, but includes other problems which were not taken up in his experiments.