Ensuring High-Quality Silage: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

In 2024 Tama have embarked on a mission to unlock the secrets of conserving high-quality silage. Producing high-quality, nutritious silage requires attention to detail, as even minor mistakes can lead to significant problems. Oversights or shortcuts can result in silage that is either unusable due to insufficient dry matter content or dangerous to herd health because of mould growth and the presence of mycotoxins or Listeria. Many farmers have accepted issues like mould as inevitable. However, these problems often stem from committing a few key silage ‘sins.’ Here are the primary ones to watch oåut for:

Mould growth in silage bales primarily depends on two factors; contamination with mould spores before baling and secondly, oxygen entering the bale after wrapping.

Oxygen is present in baled forage, but if a bale is wrapped correctly, it will be consumed quickly through respiration by the plant or aerobic microorganisms. The wrap then acts as an air barrier, preventing further oxygen ingress. Although it is impossible to eliminate all mould spores, steps can be taken to minimise their numbers and reduce the risk. It is crucial to not mow too low to prevent soil contamination and also remove any surplus grass from the previous growing season, preferably through grazing or topping.

Harvesting over-mature grass can increase the likelihood of mould contamination in silage. While sometimes unavoidable due to weather conditions or specific forage needs, this practice is often driven by a desire to increase crop yield at the expense of forage quality.

As forage matures and seeds set, vegetative parts of the crop die, becoming susceptible to fungal pathogens. These pathogens can enable non-pathogenic fungi to establish in the forage, increasing the overall fungal load.

To reduce mould contamination, use a tedder to spread the crop out for even drying, spread the grass over 80 to 100% of the original cut area within 2 hours of mowing. Failure to do this can lead to conducive conditions for mould growth. Original mower swathes also hinder the wind’s effectiveness in drying the crop. Spreading the crop promotes rapid wilting and allows sunlight to help control mould through ultraviolet radiation.

Stretchfilm manufacturers recommend applying 6 layers to the barrel of the bale, this is important considering 66% of the bales surface is in this area. Considering Australia does higher dry matter silage the use of 6-layer application helps reduce white mould, improves silage quality and helps bales store for longer periods. Film must be applied with a 50% overlap pattern and with 4-layer application, any bale out of shape or bigger than usual will not have enough film applied causing air ingress and mould on the bales. Data shows 6-layer application returns 70% over the extra cost of application.

Move wrapped bales within two hours, or at least within eight hours, to their storage site, where they should remain until use. Moving bales after fermentation begins increases the risk of damaging the wrap and allowing oxygen ingress. Using a bale grab to move them squeezes the bale, potentially creating a vacuum that draws in air when the grab is released, facilitating mould growth. Do not spike the bales as this allows air ingress.

Wrapping equipment must be set up correctly and maintained to achieve correct application and maximise the films benefit. Tama recommends stretching film at minimum 70%. Pre stretch rollers must be cleaned regularly; tension springs checked for strong tension against the film roll. Check all moving parts are free, gearing is greased and operating. Start wrapping the bale through the centre of the bale to attain 50% application overlap, if all this is correct then film will be applied correctly to the bale.

Protect bales from bird and vermin damage by stacking them in a clean well drained area. Continually check your bales for any damage and repair these with silage tape quickly to avoid air ingress. Even the claws of a fox or cat can have this effect. Bait the stack if required. Avoid the use of chemicals or fertilsers on or near the bales as these can affect the UV stabilser in the film.

By avoiding these seven silage sins, farmers can produce high-quality, nutritious silage and avoid potential regrets. Ensuring the best practices in bale wrapping and handling significantly enhances silage quality and safety.