With maize crops maturing earlier than expected and lower yields being reported across many areas, it's more important than ever to ensile them correctly. When every tonne counts, reducing storage losses can make a real difference to the amount of quality forage available this winter.
The cost of growing the crop has already been incurred, making every tonne harvested even more valuable. An oxygen barrier film helps preserve more dry matter, reduce spoilage, maintain feed quality and minimise waste throughout storage. In a season where replacement feed may be expensive, protecting what you've grown is one of the smartest investments you can make.
Why use an oxygen barrier film?
When maize yields are below average, every tonne of silage becomes more valuable. Protecting it from avoidable losses can have a much greater financial impact than in a high-yielding year.
Here are the key reasons to consider using an oxygen barrier film such as Silostop.
1. Every tonne of silage is worth more
If your maize harvest is 20–30% lower than expected, you'll have less home-grown forage available for the winter.
Losing silage from a smaller crop could mean having to purchase expensive replacement feed.
Instead of simply storing forage, the priority becomes protecting every kilogram you've harvested.
2. Reduce valuable dry matter losses
The greatest avoidable losses occur at the surface of the clamp, where oxygen can penetrate traditional polyethylene films.
An oxygen barrier film helps to:
- Reduce dry matter losses
- Preserve more starch
- Maintain higher energy content
- Minimise spoilage in the top layers of the clamp
Saving just 2–5% more of the crop could equate to several tonnes of additional feed.
3. Reduce waste at feed out
Spoiled maize has to be discarded—and with lower forage stocks, every bucket matters.
Reducing spoilage means:
- More of the harvested crop reaches the cows
- Less feed is thrown away
- Reduced reliance on purchased feeds
4. Maintain feed quality throughout the winter
Maize grown under challenging conditions may already have:
- Lower starch levels
- Variable dry matter
- More damaged kernels
- Reduced yields
Allowing oxygen into the clamp only accelerates further quality losses.
An oxygen barrier helps preserve:
- Energy
- Digestibility
- Palatability
Helping you maintain animal performance when forage quality is already under pressure.
5. Reduce heating during feed out
Smaller clamps or slower feed-out rates can increase the risk of aerobic deterioration.
By reducing oxygen penetration during storage, an oxygen barrier film helps:
- Reduce yeast and mould growth
- Improve clamp stability
- Keep silage cooler during feed out
6. Protect the investment you've already made
Growing maize is a significant investment, including:
- Seed
- Fertiliser
- Crop protection
- Fuel
- Machinery
- Labour
- Land
These costs remain largely the same regardless of yield. When yields are lower, the cost per tonne harvested increases, making it even more important to protect every tonne produced.
7. Help reduce purchased feed costs
Preserving more silage can reduce the need to buy additional feed such as:
- Maize silage
- Grass silage
- Wholecrop
- Concentrates
Even a small reduction in storage losses can deliver a strong return on investment.
8. Peace of mind for the months ahead
Lower maize yields often raise concerns about winter forage stocks.
Using an oxygen barrier film helps ensure the harvested crop is stored under the best possible conditions, reducing avoidable losses and giving you greater confidence in your feed supply.