A comparison of different crops for grass silage by the use of mason jars as miniature silos
1941
Odland, T.E. | Cox, T.R. | Smith, J.B.
A number of grass and legume crops were used for making silage, both alone and in mixtures. Two-quart mason jars were used as miniature silos. Silage prepared in this way was very similar in proximate analysis for conventional feed constituents and in general appearance to silage from the same sources preserved in bags in a large silo filled with grass silage. The chemical composition of several crops on an oven-dry basis was very similar whether preserved as silage in a large silo, in a small tile silo, or in a mason jar silo. The same was also true when these analyses were compared with those of the green material as harvested or after this was cured for hay. Molasses and phosphoric acid were compared as preservatives. Each material was used at several rates. Both the molasses and the phosphoric acid proved very satisfactory. The amount of preservative used was apparently of less importance than the moisture content and stage of maturity of the material ensiled. When different crops were ensiled at various stages of maturity, a decrease in protein content with increase in maturity of the crop was noted. Clover and alfalfa ensiled before blooming did not make as satisfactory silage as when allowed to reach full bloom. Clover, alfalfa, and soybeans made silage with a high protein content and generally excellent quality when harvested at the usual stage of maturity for hay. They were also used as parts of mixtures with other crops with good results. Millet, sudan grass, rye, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass were other crops satisfactorily ensiled by these methods.
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