Farming need to improve silage quality

Many farmers were fortunate to have had some surplus silage left over for hungry stock during the recent cold weather when grass growth did not match demand.

We had lots of “surplus” silage early in the spring after a mild winter and good grass growth last year however the situation could be quite different in 2012.

Farmers are always better off to have some extra silage and avoid the potential need to purchase expensive concentrates next winter or spring. Quality silage is always saleable and livestock numbers – cattle, dairy cows and sheep – have increased significantly so we need more silage now than we did some years ago. Due to higher energy and fertilizer prices farmers need to focus more on how to improve silage quality while minimising costs at all stages.

Since grass is just half the cost of silage per tonne of DM the first way of making savings is to use more grazed grass. Every extra day at grass is a saving of over €1.00 on a store bullock of 500 kg., comparing the cost of grass and silage plus a small amount of meal indoors with quality grazed grass and taking into account the extra gain on grass over a silage-based diet.

According to the well respected Teagasc specialist Liam Fitzgerald aim for a first cut yield of at least 12.5 tonnes of fresh grass/acre (30 tonnes / ha), giving 10 tonnes /acre (25 tonnes / ha) of utilisable silage out of the pit. Good yields are achieved with adequate fertilizer, especially nitrogen (N) at about 100 units / ac (120 kg / ha), a growth period of about 50 days and re-seeded swards.

High quality silage is required for all stock except pregnant spring calving cows in good body condition. Feeding silage of over 70% DMD for weanlings, store cattle and autumn / winter calving suckler cows in lactation, will save lots of euros on purchased feed. In general there is a saving of 1 kg meal for each 3 units of improved digestibility (DMD).

Using adequate fertilizer and re-seeding with more productive varieties will increase yields well above 2.0 tonnes DM / ac. Delayed harvesting will not result in savings as the gain in yield is cancelled out by reduced quality, delayed re-growth and sward damage.

Applying 3,000 gallons/acre of slurry supplies enough phosphorus and potassium for one cut of silage.