The efficiency of six methods of covering silage

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Abstract
An experiment was conducted during two seasons with 25-ton bunker silos to compare six different methods of reducing surface waste. Covering with weighted plastic immediately the bunker was full eliminated surface waste except for a small quantity at the edges of the plastic and in the corners of the bunker. The visible waste was only 0.8 per cent and the total loss of dry matter from all sources 12 per cent. Losses with the other treatments were as follows: no cover, 34.2 per cent; roof. 32.6 per cent; sawdust. 30.0 per cent; soil. 25.0 per cent; limestone. 23.6 per cent. The most desirable silage fermentation occurred in the plastic-covered silage. The effects of poor covering were most marked in the top 1 ft of silage.