Good-quality baled silage
IDEALLY, BALED SILAGE should be made with leafy grass with its higher digestibility and higher feeding value.
If baled silage is cut later in the season then its quality won't be as high because digestibility is directly related to the maturity of the grass. Harvesting in late June or after means the digestibility of baled silage is not adequate for finishing cattle or milking cows. Cutting grass while it is leafy and not stemmy will ensure quality silage. Planning ahead will ensure that your investment in the silage has the best outcome.
Grass crops need to be harvested when seed-heads are emerging from the grass plants if baled silage of superior feed value is to be produced. Well preserved, palatable baled silage can be made from stemmy grass, but its feeding value will not be high. This stemmy type of baled silage will be adequate for dry spring-calving beef suckler cows whose nutrient requirements during winter are modest, but not good enough for lactating cows or finishing cattle unless supplemented with extra concentrates.
To ensure that silage of high feed value is produced e.g. 75+% DMD then reseeding the pasture should be considered. Fertilisers are important to secure an adequate yield. To facilitate the production of a quality crop, fertiliser and/or slurry should be applied early, evenly and at the correct rates to ensure both the maximum yield response and the minimum negative effects on quality.
Wilting
Baled silage is best made from wilted grass. Aim to wilt to about 25% dry matter as this allows more effective preservation and this will ensure there will be no effluent in baled silage. Wilting reduces bale weight which makes them easier to handle and dry bales keep their shape, which helps avoid storage losses. Wilting avoids the need for preservative-type additives, which are difficult to apply to baled silage. It reduces the number of bales, reducing cost.
Avoid over wilting and aim to have the crop on the ground for only 24 to 36 hours with the grass being on the ground for no more than one night. Keep a close contact with weather forecasts and make use of any dry spells. Mow when the grass is dry as a standing crop dries more easily than a mown crop. Spreading the grass over the full ground area will greatly speed up drying rate.
Tedding twice on a dry day can help with wilting. The rotary tedder and while it does a good job at spreading the grass it tends to leave lumpy narrow windrows for baling which are not favoured by contractors. When using a rotary tedder for windrowing keep the swath gates close to the width of the baler pick-up and drive at a slow forward speed.
Bale Wrapping
It is important to produce dense, well-shaped bales as this allows fewer heavier bales to be made, which reduces costs. Also well-shaped bales are easier to handle and to wrap properly without causing damage.
Film used for wrapping bales should be of good quality and applied properly. Typically four layers of film are used per bale. Farmers should watch their bales being wrapped, and be sure that not less than 4 layers are being applied.
Handle bales with care before and after wrapping to avoid damage to the shape of the bale or to the plastic wrap. The easiest way to avoid damage is to bring the bales to their site of storage and wrap them there. Only use specialised bale handling equipment and not spikes when moving wrapped bales.
Bales should be wrapped as quickly as possible after baling, and any handling of wrapped bales should be within a day of wrapping. A delay can allow some bales settle thereby making it more difficult to lift them without causing damage to the plastic film.
Storage
Remove wrapped bales from the field quickly to avoid bird damage. Store wrapped bales on a level, smooth, hard surface with good access so the bales can be easily reached for feeding. Unwilted bales should be stored on the ground and wilted bales can be stored 2 or 3 high if suitable handling equipment is available. Unwilted bales can produce effluent, which would need to be collected and used properly. Take precautions against damage from birds and other wildlife and cover with fine-mesh netting. Inspect the bales frequently and repair damage immediately.
Bales are usually stored singly, on their sides or ends. Any damage to the wrapping of a bale can result in mould growth which can spoil the bale. Bales should be handled immediately after wrapping, preferably within hours. This prevents damage to sagging bales. It avoids damaging the seal when fermentation is underway. Bales are more easily damaged if left overnight. Examine bales after handling and repair damage immediately.
Pollution
Silage effluent is highly polluting however if baled silage is made from wilted grass or more than 25 per cent dry matter it does not normally produce effluent. Farmers in REPS should make sure that outside farmyards silage bales should not be stored within 20 meters of watercourses or lakes nor within 50 metres of wells. Collect the plastic wrap after removal from the bale and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly manner.
