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SOUTH DAKOTA WEATHER

Silage Covering and Harvest Management to Maximize Feed Value

Silage Covering and Harvest Management to Maximize Feed Value


Covering silage piles to exclude oxygen is critically important to control nutrient loss in silage.

In research silos, covering with white-and-black plastic with or without oxygen barrier film was effective in minimizing storage losses.

Condensed distillers solubles (abbreviated as CDS syrup), a by-product of ethanol production, was no better than using no cover at all in preventing organic matter losses.

Silage inoculants improved fermentation when used in covered silos but were ineffective in uncovered silos or when syrup was used.

Silage plays a key role in supporting beef production in South Dakota. Whether the crop is corn, sorghum, or small grain, ensiling provides a method to preserve the crop in a palatable form that provides a great deal of flexibility to livestock producers.

However, to optimize nutrient capture, the entire harvest and storage process must be well-managed. Everything, including hitting harvest moisture targets, managing cut length, and achieving the correct bunker or pile density, is important in achieving a rapid pH drop and preserving crop nutrients. But perhaps the most-important step is the use of a cover to limit oxygen infiltration into the silage mass.

 

Source: sdstate.edu

Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic

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Categories: South Dakota, Harvesting

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