Tama Assist Tama’s 5 Top Tips for Making Great Silage (and What to Look for in Well Fermented Silage)
When it comes to making silage, there are tried and true steps you can take to ensure the best quality feed for your herd. In this quick guide, we share our top tips for getting it right, as well as the signs of proper silage fermentation.
The first thing to get right is timing your harvest around a good weather window. Of course, in the UK, that’s sometimes easier said than done, but it’s crucial for getting your dry matter (DM) content right.
- For grass silage, aim for 30% DM (up to 40% if baled)
- For maize silage, aim for 28–35% DM
- For other whole crops, such as barley, aim for 40% DM
In a pinch, you can estimate harvested grass DM (or silage) by squeezing a golf-ball-sized amount of material in your hand for 30 seconds. If no juice runs out, but your hand is moist, you’re at roughly 25–30% DM. Ideally, take a more precise measurement using the microwave method.
Another key part of silage preservation is making sure your chop length is correct at harvest. This is closely related to DM as the optimal length depends on moisture content.
- For clamp silage, higher DM means the silage will be harder to compress, and will need a shorter chop length. At 30% DM, aim for a 2.5–5 cm chop. With a higher DM, you may need to go to 8 cm.
- For round-baled silage, a similar chop length of 2–5 cm is ideal at 30% DM. Our crop-specific baling guide highlights additional considerations.
One of the most important factors in an effective silage fermentation process is getting it wrapped (or clamped) as quickly as possible.
For grass silage, if possible, spread out your cut to dry within an hour of cutting, and get it wrapped within 24 hours. If the weather is threatening, try to wrap on the same day.
The faster you ensile your crop, the more energy you lock into the feed. Getting it ensiled within four hours ensures maximum nutrition, but to get this right, you’ll need to harvest as close to the target DM as possible.
If your silage is cut and wrapped properly, you’ll be able to tell the quality instantly when it’s time to feed out. Here’s what to look for when assessing grass silage quality:
- Bright green-yellow or green-brown colour
- Mild, pleasantly acidic or “sweet-sour” smell (which means fermentation has been successful)
- Silage pH levels of 4.0–4.5
A strong sour or vinegary smell, slime, or mould patches are signs that something has gone wrong in your process.
Alongside the four previous steps, the best way to ensure proper silage fermentation is by using high-quality silage wrap products.
Look for:
- High strength netwrap that keeps bales intact and properly dense
- Puncture resistant silage wrap that ensures minimal gas permeability and optimal fermentation
With this final piece in place, the hard work you put into cutting and baling translates directly into higher quality feed. And that means a healthier herd through the winter.
Need more help with your harvest or choosing the right silage products? Tama Assist helps UK farmers get it right. Let’s talk.
Subscribe to Tama News for practical baling tips, real farmer insights, and the latest advice, straight to your inbox each month.
