The use of bales has become more common. Bales increase flexibility, but they also affect the quality. Read more about the benefits of the different storage methods.

Clamp silo

The key to success of silage in a clamp silo is, besides the basic requirements, a sufficient output. In order to facilitate compaction, the crop should be chopped. It speeds up the fermentation process and helps to get a smooth cut surface.

The dry matter in the crop is crucial for success. The DM content should be around 28 and 35%. If the DM content is lower than 28%, the silage will have effluent, causing a great loss of nutrients and environmental pressures.

A high DM content makes the crop more difficult to compact properly, a problem that can be prevented by using an additive. To ensure the quality of the silage the output should be 15-30 cm each day or even faster in warm weather. The silage is normally compacted with a density up to about 200 kg ts/m³. Clamp silos are suitable for herds of 50 cows and more. For large herds clamp silos are the only feasible option.

Tower silo

There is no active compaction of the crop in tower silos. The crop density should be sufficient to achieve a good compaction. The density in a tower silo varies. The average density is usually about 300 kg ts/m³. A low DM content in the bottom of the silo often leads to large losses of effluent and thus large nutrient losses. It is recommended to have 45-50% DM in the lower part of the silo and then gradually wetter crops higher up. The top layer should not be drier than crop in a clamp silo. It might also be a good solution to add direct cut harvested crop on the top. But then additive is required to avoid clostridia formations.

The outlet should be at least 5 cm / day, preferably more. In order to distinguish between different batches of silage one silo for each harvest is preferable.

Bales

The usage of bales have some benefits, for instance making it easy to sort different feed lots, allowing silage feeding on farms with low feed consumption and also trade with silage. A system based on bales does not require permanent investments, if harvest services are bought. The drawbacks of bales are the plastic consumption and their relative sensitivity.

The handling of bales is very important. To avoid damage to the plastic, they should not be handled during the time between the transportation after the harvest and until they are going to be used. It is recommended that bales are brought to the farm, preferably before covering. If they are covered in the field they should be brought to the farm within three days. This precaution is because the plastic dries and may break, leading to oxygen leakage. Bales should be stored on a hard surface and covered by protective nets and, if possible, placed in the shadow of a building.

In order to minimize plastic consumption and work in connection with the handling of bales, the density is of utmost importance. High density means that there are fewer bales / ton DM to handle. Optimal DM content varies between different harvest machines, but overall there seems to be an optimum around 45-50% DM content. To ensure oxygen free environment 6 layers of plastic is recommended. If the bales are to be handled a lot it is appropriate with additional plastic.

Tubes

Storing silage in tubes is like combining the benefits of clamp silos and bales. Tubes do not require any permanent investment. They have a small surface, provide a rapid oxygen free environment and have a high capacity. The technique can also be used for other crops, including cereals.

The small, in comparison with clamp silo, surface makes it possible to use the tubes feeding small herds. With larger herds, tubes make it possible to feed several different silages at the same time. The drawbacks of tubes are the dependence on specific packing machines and their availability. The system is also very plastic dependent and DM sensitive. In order for an optimal compaction a DM content of about 40% is required.