While silage production has been widespread throughout Europe for many years, baling is a relatively new technique, introduced just over a decade ago. This means there are still major opportunities for increasing the value it provides to the farmer.

white bales field
     Source: istockphoto archive

Improvements can be achieved in the nutritional quality of the conserved silage and in the retention of the harvested and conserved crop’s value. The film wrap used to cover the bales has a central role to play in maximising and retaining quality and value.

When prepared efficiently and with good quality equipment and wrap, research indicates that baled silage has more to offer financially and in convenience than other conservation methods, even for larger farms.

The goal of ensiling is to conserve and store crop nutrients and to minimise losses from harvesting until feeding. Silage offers the benefit of being a home-produced feed. It is clean and natural with complete traceability and a relatively low cost to the farmer.

Production of milk and meat is mainly based on conserved feeds fed during a long winter period indoors. New animal welfare standards have increased the cost of housing the animals. In order to meet these costs and other economic pressures, farmers have improved the production per animal and improved their feed strategies. The nutritive value and hygienic quality of feed are therefore of great importance.