GREAT GRASS MAKE GREAT QUALITY SILAGE Poor Quality Silage
Costs Money €3,670/year cost of silage lost through wastage in 500tn pit*
DM
€ €€
5% DMD reduction, needs to be replaced with 1.5kgs of feed
SAVE €490/week/100 cows, feed cost to replace every 5% DMD lost**
*Teagasc Grass Silage 2014 Study reported 16% silage quantitative loss using excellent management practices. Teagasc April 2022 reported estimate cost of €47/tn silage. **Based on feed cost of €0.70/day/cow for every 5% DMD loss over 70%.
Three StageS to Making Quality SIlage
Stage one: Pre-cutting Silage season is almost upon us. It is important to have a plan in place pre-harvest. The quality of silage made should not drop in the pursuit of a higher quantity. It’s better to increase quantity through fertilisation, taking additional cuts or sourcing grass off the farm through contract growing, renting land or buying grass. Managing weeds in the grass growth period will increase the quality of silage and should be used appropriately.
REMEMBER Maintaining healthy grass growth will have an impact on quantity and quality of silage.
DM
Any loss in DM will have to be substituted or production will be negatively impacted.
recommended products
Available to purchase in branch or online at GlanbiaConnect.com PROBLEM
Docks and Chickweed
Docks, Thistles, Chickweed, Buttercups and Dandelions
Docks and Chickweed
Docks
SOLUTION
Governor® 5L HERBICIDE
DOSE RATE
2.0 L/ha
9106283
Esteem® 5L HERBICIDE
9106284
Hurler® T 5L HERBICIDE
1.5 L/ha
new sown leys and maize
2.0 L/ha
DESCRIPTION • Apply four weeks pre-cutting silage. • Good suppression at reduced rate. • Two applications of half rate (1.0L), spring and autumn more practical. • Not clover safe. • Controls broad spectrum of weeds such as, buttercups, docks thistles, chickweed, fat-hen and mayweed. • Can be used @ 1L/ha on newly sown leys • Not clover safe.
• Controls chickweed and established docks. • Not clover safe.
9039603
Eagle® 120g HERBICIDE
9000211
40g-60g / Ha
• Controls both broad leaf and curled docks. • Should not be used in very dry weather. • Clover safe.
Three StageS to Making Quality SIlage
Stage TWO: cutting Quality silage, that is high in dry matter, relies heavily on harvesting at the right time and minimising the losses of feeding value.
Top tips
24 Test grass using NIR4/ spectrometer to establish correct cutting time.
Wilt for 24 hours to increase DM and improve fermentation.
Use silage additives tailored to the specific DM content of your silage.
Make safety on farm a priority.
REMEMBER Delayed cutting or poorly preserved silages can lose up to 5% units of DMD. This can result in milk yield reductions of 1.5 litres per day, and increases the cost of finishing cattle.
Ecosyl silage
additives
For consistently better silage
Increases digestibility Decrease waste Increases rate and quality of fermentation process Increases dry matter intakes
DM
Higher DM silage can reduce the days to finish and lower compound feed rates.
Buy 10 Get 1 FREE
Three Stages to Making Quality Silage
Stage THREE: PITTING AND BALING Pitting or baling silage isn’t just about getting the job done. This stage of the silage making process can be a make or break in terms of having a quality feed for livestock and reducing costly losses. So it’s important to get it right. Along with using the right pitting and baling techniques, using quality silage covers plays a really crucial role in protecting your silage; both during the fermentation process and throughout the winter feeding months.
REMEMBER €3,670/year cost of silage lost through wastage in 500tn pit.
€490/week/100 cows, feed cost to replace every 5% DMD lost.
€ €€
Choosing the Right Silage Cover
Maximum Protection
Bodyguard/Hermitix + Underlayer • Maximum protection, minimum waste.
Agrisafe Hybrid Classic 2-in-1 NEW • Standard Black Cover + Underlayer combined. • Double protection + more convenient.
Bodyguard/Hermitix • Extremely strong, high oxygen barrier. • Lighter and easier to handle that standard covers.
Standard Protection
Standard Black Cover • Black; 400 Gauge (100 Microns). • Proven quality for years.
Three StageS to Making Quality SIlage
Stage THREE: PITTING AND BALING Standard Black Cover • • • •
Proven quality for years.
Bodyguard/Hermitix Heavy Duty Silage Cover
High resistance to weathering.
A highly flexible, hole resistant cover, with an oxygen barrier.
Performs well even at extreme temperatures.
• Reduces silage surface spoilage by restricting oxygen
Thicker and stronger than most standard covers on the market.
permeation and the growth of molds and improves aerobic stability.
• Fits into landscape with green layer. • Double black layers ensure better preservation and faster fermentation.
• Hermetix makes covering your silage pit quick, clean and easy with labour savings.
• High impact and tear resistant.
• Available in 60 x 80,
60 x 100 or 60 x 120FT
Underlayer Silage Film Using Underlayer Silage Film will minimise silage waste.
• This sits directly beneath silage cover. • Thinner and more flexible material allows it to “cling” to surface to avoid air pockets.
• Produce better quality silage with less waste.
“The underlayer to put it simply acts like clingfilm on your lunch. It seals out any of the air and it stops the top layer of silage going off so you have no wastage. When you open the pit, the top layer of silage is perfect and no labour involved in cleaning off spoiled silage. It’s worth the investment because it more than repays itself.” Eddie Mackey, Mooncoin
NEW Agrisafe Hybrid Classic 2-in-1 Innovative, extra strong two-layer sheet Includes standard black cover and underlayer film in one roll
Net Replacement Film
• High oxygen barrier, preventing spoilage • Double protection, more convenient and quicker to apply • Available in sizes: 60 x 80FT, 60 x 100FT and 60 x 120FT
Mastercrop Agri-Stretch Bale Wrap
• Silage Quality: Adds extra film to the barrel of the
A durable 5-layer silage wrap. Its high tack finish ensures a tight seal which is air, gas and water resistant
• Reduces mould: Mould reduces silage quality, the
• • • •
bale. The oxygen barrier is improved and silage is stored better. Leading to higher quality silage.
extra film on the bale reduces vermin and handler damage.
• Labour saving: No need to separate net and film
when opening bales. Reduces feeding time, waste disposal easier and reduced costs.
• Better shaped bale: Compresses the bale tighter than net and keeps the bale in better shape.
25 micron 5-layer for strength Tacky finish ensures a tight seal Suitable for use with all leading wrapping machines
• Puncture and tear resistant
GREAT GRASS MAKE GREAT QUALITY SILAGE
Stage one:
Pre-cutting
Stage two:
cutting
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Stage three:
pitting & baling