Tama Assist How Hot Is Too Hot for Silage? A Guide to Ideal Temperatures
Silage is a core ingredient in many livestock feed formulations. Silage production involves the controlled fermentation of compacted fresh forage in the absence of oxygen.
During this anaerobic process, bacteria convert plant sugars into lactic acid and heat is generated.
Heat plays a natural role in silage fermentation, but there’s a fine line between healthy heat and overheating. Managing silage temperature is key to good silage management and ensuring top quality silage.
Good silage management practices start with harvesting the crop at the proper moisture and stage of maturity. It requires compacting, fast baling, then properly sealing the silage bale with Tama silage stretchfilm.
Once grass or other forage is compacted and baled, the natural silage fermentation process begins. Plant sugars are being converted into lactic acid by bacteria, decreasing the pH. This decrease in pH is a natural part of preserving the forage.
In this early stage, a slight increase in silage temperature (usually 4 to 10°C above ambient) is normal.
Excessive heating in silage is almost always linked to oxygen. Oxygen fuels aerobic microbes such as yeasts and moulds, which generate much higher silage temperatures. In extreme cases, bales can exceed 50°C, even reaching 70°C in badly affected forage.
At these levels, proteins are denatured. Heat also slows or halts the activity of beneficial bacteria, while silage spoilage organisms take over. The result? Nutrient losses and reduced palatability.
- Optimal fermentation zone: 25–37°C
- Caution zone: Above 40°C = risk of nutrient loss and less effective fermentation
- Danger zone: Above 50°C = rapid silage spoilage, protein breakdown, and significant feed value losses
Good silage management aims to maintain the optimal temperature range during fermentation and keep the silage bale stable during storage.
Because excess heat is generated by aerobic activity, the single most important factor in preventing silage overheating is limiting oxygen exposure. A well-sealed silage bale is a cool, stable bale.
TAMA baling products for baled silage provide suitable coverage. Premium silage wraps from TAMA are designed to:
- Create an airtight seal to maintain the anaerobic environment needed for efficient fermentation.
- Support the beneficial bacteria essential for proper silage fermentation.
- Prevent oxygen penetration and heat buildup.
- Maintain feed value by minimising nutrient degradation.
With advanced multi-layer technology, TAMA’s baling products help ensure your silage stays within the ideal temperature range from day one to feed-out. It’s about choosing the best silage stretchfilm for your specific silage type.
A little heat in silage is normal, it’s part of the fermentation process. But once silage temperature rises beyond the safe zone, quality and nutritional value are at risk. By using TAMA stretch film products such as PolybalePro to eliminate oxygen, you can prevent silage spoilage and ensure maximum performance.
Get in touch with the TAMA team to find the best silage bale product for optimum silage quality.