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Jaakko Helminen, an agricultural advisor in Finland, explains the benefits and gives his advice on getting the most from silage. "Grass silage is an essential, safe and natural feed for dairy cows. Silage in bales is very popular amongst small farms because of the low investment cost and its flexibility in the feeding system and in managing the animal's diet. "You can make and feed different silages according to D-value (digestible organic matter in the dry matter), fermentation or dry matter percentage for example to different animal groups according to production level, age or other criteria. "Baled silage reduces logistical problems. You can leave bales on plots far from the farmstead and take them for feeding when and where they are needed. And baled silage can be made with only one or two people. "For best results, the farmer should use pure grass with a D-value of 68 or more, pre-wilt to at least 30% dry matter and use an additive, based on formic acid. The silage must be protected from air, which in bales means at least six layers of wrap. It should be analysed and used in conjunction with a feeding plan and with the right balance of concentrates." |
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