One major challenge for dairy farmers come silage season is reducing dry matter (DM) losses, which can be as high as 25-40%. Here are four simple ways to cut down on DM losses in your silage clamp.
- Achieve High Density During Filling
When filling your silage clamp, aim for a high density. This means packing the silage tightly to reduce air pockets.
- Spread silage in thin layers, no more than 15 cm thick.
- Use heavy machinery to compact these layers.
- Aim for a density of 750 kg/m³ fresh weight or 220-250 kg/m³ dry matter.
High density means less oxygen in the silage, which prevents spoilage and DM loss.
- Seal the Clamp Quickly
Sealing your silage clamp quickly and correctly is crucial. This keeps air out and maintains an anaerobic environment for fermentation.
- Cover the silage right after filling with a high oxygen barrier silage film like Silostop Max and a cover like Secure Covers. This will prevent bird and wildlife damage.
- Use gravel bags to weigh down the sheets and hold everything in place.
- Make sure the edges are sealed tight with no gaps.
A well-sheeted and tightly sealed clamp keeps it air tight and maintains an anaerobic environment.
- Use Silage Inoculants
A silage inoculant can improve the fermentation process and reduce dry matter loss even further.
- Inoculants like Lactobacillus plantarum help silage ferment.
- These can increase DM recovery by up to 3.7 percentage points.
- They also improve the silage quality, making it more digestible, boosting milk production.
Inoculants can play a crucial role in the quality of silage if they are applied correctly.
- Minimize Aerobic Spoilage at Feedout
Aerobic spoilage happens when silage is exposed to air. Reducing this exposure during feedout is key.
- Remove the silage carefully to avoid disturbing the rest.
- Discard any spoiled or moldy silage.
- Treating silage with heterofermentative inoculants to improve aerobic stability.
Keeping air out of silage at feedout helps maintain quality and reduces losses.
By packing your silage tightly, sealing it well, using inoculants, and handling it carefully at feedout, you can cut down on dry matter losses.
These steps will help keep your silage fresh and nutritious, ensuring top-notch feed for your cows.
Need help reducing DM losses?
Contact a member of our team today, and we'll explore ways to drastically reduce your DM losses using our innovative high oxygen barrier silage films.
