Technical Newsletter for Ruminant Professionals.
4 December 2024
Quality Matters: Navigating Silage Risks After a Wet Growing Season.
Farmers know first-hand that this year drenched us with record-breaking rainfall before it turned to snow!
Poor weather conditions are likely to have had lingering effects on silage quality for the winter. Yes, harvested yields may have been relatively healthy, but the wet and mild season could have compromised silage quality, making careful storage and management even more important than usual.
There are several silage issues that can be exacerbated due to high moisture levels, all the way from growth and harvest to storage and feed out:
Diluted Nutrient Content: Excess moisture dilutes nutrient density in the forage. Wet conditions during growth can also reduce sugar levels essential for good fermentation resulting in lower essential fermentation acids. They often have high buffering capacity and take more time to stabilise!
Challenging Harvest Conditions: Wet fields can delay harvesting and make it harder to get machinery onto the field. Mud and soil contamination during harvest also increase the risk of introducing unwanted microorganisms, which can disrupt fermentation and cause heating issues in the silo.
Fermentation Process: The real problems can escalate in storage. Wet forage complicates the fermentation process, as lower sugar levels and excess moisture reduce efficiency and increase spoilage risk. Bacteria like Clostridium, which thrives in these conditions, produce butyric acid, leading to spoilage. Leachate production also rises, potentially carrying away nutrients and increasing mould risk, particularly around silo edges.
Feeding Challenges: Silage that avoids obvious dry matter losses and spoilage may still suffer from lower palatability, digestibility, and even harbour harmful mycotoxins that pose potential health risks to livestock.
Tips to Preserve Silage Quality and Minimise Losses.
To help reduce these risks, there are a few key strategies farmers can use:
Silage additives: Using inoculants can help control fermentation, reduce spoilage, and preserve the nutrient value of valuable forage. These additives are especially useful in managing stability during storage and feed-out.
Careful compaction and sealing: Good compaction and airtight sealing are essential to prevent air pockets. Be sure to repair any tears in the oxygen barrier film to maintain anaerobic conditions and protect the silage quality.
Read more in our FAQs
Realistic Agri’s Targeted Solutions.
Realistic Agri offers products that are designed to help farmers protect their grass and maize silage with targeted solutions such as:
Silostar TMR Protect: This product includes food grade preservatives which act immediately to kill heat-causing microbes on contact in silages & total mixed rations (TMR), helping to prevent reheating and keeping the feed cool for longer. Silostar TMR Protect keeps TMR fresh for days, allowing full TMR mixes to be made just a few times per week, saving time, labour, and machinery costs.
To help improve rumen function, useful additives can be added to the TMR:
Enhance: This yeast feed additive helps restore normal rumen function, reducing acidosis and stabilizing rumen pH, which in turn aids fibre digestion, improves animal health, and helps reduce somatic cell counts.
Toxisolve: Toxisolve combines the benefits of Enhance with a mycotoxin binder that absorbs and removes harmful toxins like deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON). It also contains essential oils that support animal health and natural defences against mycotoxins.
We’re here to help.
Even with the best management practices, preserving bulk forage can bring unexpected challenges. Our team of regional experts is available to provide advice and help you find solutions tailored to your silage needs. For technical assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.
CONTACT REALISTIC AGRI FOR FURTHER ADVICE:
WALES: Gareth 07927 288866
SCOTLAND & IRELAND: David 07766 722502 / +353 85 224 3454
ENGLAND: Sean 07714 213455 or Adam 07494 435031