Making quality silage

SILAGE quality has reduced in value over the past years. This is mostly due to delayed cutting, cutting too low and cutting poorer quality grasses. Silage harvesting has of course got much more expensive and many farmers delay cutting to maximise yield.

Silage is grass preserved in acid. This acid is produced under anaerobic conditions within the silage pit or bale. It involves the production of acetic acid by bacteria by breaking down some of the energy in the grass leaves and stems. This conversion of grass into silage normally takes about 21 days. The silage quality will always be less than the grass crop ensiled. The crop should be ryegrass swards if possible but if old pasture is preserved its still possible to make reasonable quality silage. Ensure the crop is well fertilised with nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) and potash(K). This can be applied with a combination of chemical fertiliser and slurry. If slurry is applied make sure the field is bare and allow 5-7 days before applying the chemical fertiliser after slurry. Avoid soil compaction before and during silage making as this reduces the crop and can make preservation more difficult. Allow 7-8 weeks of a growing period before cutting to get maximum value from the fertiliser. Always cut when the crop is leafy with mid /late May being the most suitable time but however weather conditions must also be suitable. If you cut in broken weather it’s more difficult to get good preservation. A preservative can be used in certain situations but wilting is much more practical. Wilt if possible for 24-36 hours to reduce effluent losses and to reduce bulk. This is especially relevant with round bales. Remove the crop from the field as quickly as possible especially with round bales. The silage should remain in good condition if air and water can be excluded so ensure the plastic is maintained at all times.