3 Tips for Silage Packing

By now, most are starting to chop silage.  As we are looking to store this crop, there are a few important things to keep in mind when you are packing silage.

1.  Add Water to Silage

Silage that is too dry will decrease your capacity for storage as well as not ferment as properly.  Silage should average 30-35% dry matter or 65-70% moisture.  Silage that is too dry needs to have water added.  This should be done during the layering process to permeate through the silage and not create runoff.  As a general guideline, you should add four gallons of water per ton of silage for each percentage increase of desired moisture content.  This will eliminate fluffy air pockets in your silage storage for better processing.

2.  Compact

To establish as few air bubbles as possible, it is important to compact your silage in during the process.  High speed silo blowers are efficient, but add unnecessary air especially to the outer ring of material.  This creates poor fermentation.  Distributors should be utilized in these silos for better compaction and higher capacity levels.  If using a bunker or trench type system, constant compaction while filling is essential.  You should be mounding the silage so rain water will drain off.

3.  Air Tight Seal

To ferment properly, having an airtight environment is essential.  The fermentation process begins when the oxygen is depleted.  Fermentation lowers the pH level to the point where no organism can function.  Bacteria consume the carbohydrates from the silage to function and excrete lactic acid.  Once the pH level has diminished, the fermentation process is complete.  Covering silage after the last load is critical in starting this process.  Weighing down a plastic tarp over bunk or trench system with old tires is a common way to accomplish this.  On silos, ensuring door seals are in working condition will eliminate excess air.  When fermented silage is exposed to oxygen, mold can form.  This type of normal mold will not harm your livestock, but you will se consumption rate decrease.

Dangers

This is a dangerous process for a livestock operation.  It is important to provide adequate ventilation in chutes and non-filled spaces.  Staying out of the silo for the first 10 days is recommended.  Closing off doors to your barn will protect exposure to your livestock.  Check out this article from National Ag Safety for tips and information about silage safety.

Do you have more tips for silage packing?  Comment below, or connect with us on Twitter or Facebook!

                              

 

 

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