Making Grass Silage for Better Returns - Eblex

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Making good silage bales 10 Silage destined for bales can be wilted to 35%–45% DM. Drier crops are lighter, but are more prone to moulds and less efficiently used by livestock. Bales can be round or rectangular. Fermentation may be better in rectangular bales as they are denser. They are also easier to transport, but need heavy duty handling equipment due to their weight and are prone to damaged corners. Baling • Ensure baler is well maintained • Aim for dense, well-shaped bales to produce heavier but fewer bales per hectare, reducing baling and wrapping costs • For a round baler, clean the rollers regularly to avoid build-up of material • Use net wrap to speed up baling • To prevent soil contamination, check ground conditions and adjust stubble height to minimise risk. Wrapping • Ensure wrapper is well maintained • Wrap within two to three hours of baling, preferably at the store site. Remove field-wrapped bales to the storage area without delay to avoid damage from birds • Use high quality film with 55–70% pre-stretching.When the wrap is applied it will shrink creating a good seal • Use six layers of wrap – counted on the sides of the bale • Consider green or white wrap to reduce heat at bale surface, as heating can affect fermentation and cause spoilage • Handle and store to avoid damage to wrap. Stacking • Ensure site is level and winter access is possible • Follow HSE guidance on stacking bales • 35% DM three bales high • Bales within the stack retain their quality better than bales on the outside, so place the best silage within the stack • Stack more than 10m away from watercourse • Net and bait stack to prevent bird and rodent damage.
Making good clamp silage Preparing the clamp • Remove any old, mouldy or rotting silage and clean thoroughly • Having airtight silo walls is very important – use a side sheet • Check there is adequate effluent drainage at floor level. Clamp filling • Fill the clamp rapidly, spread silage evenly and consolidate well. The pressure exerted under the wheels of a heavy tractor will only be effective for up to 20cm depth. • If silaging continues the next day, sheet down overnight • DO NOT ROLL the following morning as this creates a vacuum and pulls more air into the silage when the aim is to get all the air out • Prevent soil contamination by cleaning tractor tyres before rolling. Keep tipping area clear of mud. 11 Clamp sealing • Seal as soon as consolidation is complete • Cover with two sheets of plastic – a thinner sheet first and a thicker protective sheet above. Or a new sheet covered by last year’s old sheet • Place tyres or bales on top. Ensure all tyres touch each other • Ensure the sheet is not punctured. Protect from birds with netting • Ensure that unroofed clamps shed rainwater evenly and freely and that it does not seep into the clamp. Managing silage effluent • Effluent must be collected as it is highly polluting • Most effluent will be produced in the first ten days after ensiling. Short chop lengths increase early peak flow, as do acid-based additives • Clamps should have an effluent storage capacity of at least two days at peak flow DM % Amount of effluent released of crop 25 Little 18 100 litres/tonne/day at peak flow 15 200 litres/tonne/day at peak flow • Collected effluent can be spread on to land but should be diluted 1:1 with water to reduce the risk of pollution and sward scorch. Aim for a rate of between 25–30 m3 /ha (2,200–2,700 litres/acre). Do not spread near watercourses or bore holes • In Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, silage effluent has to be treated as an organic manure, so closed periods must be adhered to.
Page 1 and 2: BEEF AND SHEEP BRP MANUAL 5 Making
Page 3 and 4: Contents 2 Growing good grass 4 Nut
Page 5 and 6: The Recommended Grass and Clover Li
Page 7 and 8: Big bales or clamp? The choice of s
Page 9 and 10: Problem Cause 7 What happens when i
Page 11: Chop length Chopping grass when it
Page 15 and 16: Understanding forage analysis Dry M
Page 17 and 18: Total amount of forage available in
Page 19 and 20: Calculating the cost of silage 17 K

Making Grass Silage for Better Returns - Eblex

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