Tama Assist The Baled Silage Production Process: An Easy-to-Follow Guide
Baled silage is chopped green crops fermented in airtight conditions. This allows farmers to preserve nutritious forage in compact, easy-to-handle bales. In winter, livestock feeding often changes to baled silage, supplemented with hay and concentrates. Silage is therefore an essential part of the winter menu, providing high-quality energy, protein and fibre.
However, the nutritional quality of baled silage depends on aspects such as the timing of harvest and the storage conditions and needs to be carefully monitored to ensure adequate nutrients.
Here’s a step-by-step look at the silage-making process.
The timing of harvest is crucial in silage making. Green crops are usually cut in late spring or early summer at their nutritional peak. Ryegrass, fescue, mixed grasses, maize and whole-crop cereals are popular ingredients for baled silage production because of their nutritional value.
Once conditions are right, the grass is mowed and laid in even swaths (windrows) across the field to wilt. Wilting should be done quickly, typically 24 – 48 hours to limit nutrient losses. The aim is a dry matter content of about 30-35%, which is ideal for effective fermentation. Proper wilting improves the success of the silage making process and minimises spoilage and heat buildup later on.
Silage baling is when the wilted crop is compacted into round or square bales using a baler. Tightly packed bales reduce air exposure and improve fermentation.
Bales can be twine-tied or netwrapped before being wrapped in plastic bale stretchwrap / stretchfilm / silage wrap (3 different terms that all refer to the same product) to ensure airtight, stable, high quality bales, ready for storage.
Immediately after baling, the bales are wrapped in multiple layers of a silage wrap. This step is critical. Wrapping seals the bale and creates the oxygen-free environment needed for fermentation.
Tama offers a range of silage wrap options from standard Polybale for round or square bales, available in four colours, to PolybalePro 1800 for high-performance wrapping with fewer reel changes. Eco-friendly silage stretchwraps like Silotite Pro Sustane and Cycled Wrap are made from recycled materials.
Wrapped silage bales are moved to a level, smooth storage area, ideally off the ground, to prevent damage from sharp objects or rodents. Storage close to the feeding-out area can limit damage due to frequent handling. Check for heat buildup and visually inspect bales for perforations. Repair immediately or feed out.
The silage production process is a tool to manage grazing. Silage in bale form is popular because it offers more feeding flexibility and less waste than clamp silage and enables easier transportation and feeding.
Not sure which stretchfilm is best for your silage baling? Tama has a range of solutions for square or round bales. Contact the Tama team for expert advice on choosing the best silage wrap for airtight seals and optimal fermentation.