Get your silage checked

Farmers are being urged to get their silage analysed this winter after recent samples analysed revealed low protein levels.

Staff from Scotland’s Rural College insist cattle fed on poor quality silage are at risk of potentially fatal digestion problems.

It is thought that the late cold spring and recent wet winters could have played a part in the protein levels – which have dipped as low as six per cent. However, once identified, the issue can easily be rectified.

Karen Stewart, from the college’s SAC Consulting Beef and Sheep team, said: “We are very concerned that more samples this year have protein levels below 10 per cent which we would consider critical for most stock.

“In extreme cases the protein level is even lower than last year with a few at only six and seven per cent. Most at risk are dry suckler cows, between weaning and calving, where straw is mixed in with silage they eat.

“In this situation even silages with moderate protein levels, if they are fed with too much straw, will cause issues with the function of the animal’s rumen, and possible rumen impaction.

“If protein levels are low and are not accounted for when rationing, at best cattle will not perform as well.

“The simplest and most important point is to find out how much protein there is in your silage by getting it analysed.”

For more information go to www. sruc.ac.uk.