Stage one: Pre-cutting DID YOU KNOW?
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.
Silage cost s twice as much as gra zed grass so it must b e preserved and protect ed.
Top tips: • Calculate your silage requirements using Teagasc’s handy
• Preparation is key to success. Ensure your pit is clean, walls andgrazing international findings, changes in and farm practices, nutrient guide. This will enable you to plan your paddocks research and guard rails are sound fit for purpose. Have your regulations onset of new grass and crop varieties with different nutrient requirements. and silage cutting paddocks more carefully. baling and pitting material chosen and on stand-by including quality plastic covers and tyres/sand bags. Steps to Managing Soil Fertility • Monitor grass to help identify the right time to cut. Soil fertility management needs to be managed over a long term basis as soil nutrien To achieve a high DMD silage (70%+), it’s important to cut the How does grass stage atavailability cutting affectand silage quality?of major n tend to change slowly. Optimising soilgrowth pH and the supply grass before the stem increases andsuch grass as heads-out. P and K needs a planned approach over a numbers of years to ensure pro optimised in an • Spray off any weeds such as docks, levels thistles are or nettles when
environmentally and economically sustainable manner.
they are healthy and well in advanceThe of cutting silage.5 key steps to good soil fertility management:following These weeds reduce silage quantity and also have a negative 1. Have soil analysis results for the whole farm. impact on DMD. 2. Apply lime as recommended to achieve the target
• Sample soil to give a clear indication of soil pH3.andAim nutrient to have soil test P
pH for the crop.
and K in the target Index 3 in all fields.
levels in silage ground. Knowing the soil index4. willUse determine organic fertilizers as efficiently as possible. what fertiliser or nutrients are required and also you time 5. help Make sure the fertilizers used are properly balanced. your fertiliser application more appropriately in the lead up to and in between silage cuts.
• Monitor grass sugars as they act as ‘food’ for the fermentation process.
76+%
74-76%
71-73% SILAGE DMD
Fodder Budget Calculation: A fodder budget should also be completed annually after harvesting, to ensure that there is enough fodder to feed stock for the housed period. Approximate guidelines to follow are:
• Allow 1.6 tonnes per cow/month • Allow 0.7 tonnes per head/month for stock <1 year • Allow 1.3 tonnes per head/month for stock 1-2 years To calculate the amount of silage in the pit, Teagasc has broken down the calculations required as follows: 1. Measure the length, breath, and height of the clamp 2. Multiply the length x breath x height = Total available volume for silage (m3) 3. Estimate the Dry Matter (DM) content of the silage 4. Multiply the total volume be either 0.68, 0.77 or 0.81, depending on the correction required for DM, to find the total (tonne) amount of silage in the pit:
• DM 25% = 0.68 • DM 20% = 0.77 • DM 18% = 0.81 5. Calculate how long this silage will last
GREAT GRASS MAKE GREAT QUALITY SILAGE
May 2021
68-70%
<67%
