Using red clover as a silage crop ( PDF)
Improving productivity and reducing costs is the ultimate dream for livestock farmers facing sluggish prices and low margins, particularly in dairy. However, recent research shows that introducing red clover as a silage crop could achieve just that, by bringing significant advantages in terms of input reduction and increased nutritional values.
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Ensiling red clover (197 KB PDF)
Growing and ensiling protein and energy crops on-farm has many benefits. Not only does it give farmers more control over feed costs during autumn and winter, but research shows that different forages also increase feed intake and improve production response.
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Feeding red clover silage (231 KB PDF)
Red clover as a silage crop offers a high protein forage that can be mixed with grass silage to maximise milk yields and feed conversion efficiency, as well as reducing the costs of farm inputs such as fertiliser and concentrates.
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Assessing On-Farm Dry Matter Losses in Silage Making
By knowing where on-farm losses occur and understanding how to reduce them, farmers can significantly reduce their silage production costs and thus improve their financial profitability. This guide offers a practical farm-specific assessment on how farmers can measure and reduce their on-farm losses throughout the silage making process.
English (3 MB PDF)
German (2 MB PDF)
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Protecting your Baled Silage from Wireworms
The correct storage of silage bales is vital to preserve and retain the quality and nutritional value of the feed inside. Handling and storing bales properly avoids damage caused by birds and rodents or even grass stubble. However, there is another potential hazard to baled silage, which has until now been overlooked, and that is the damage which can be caused by wireworms. This guide provides best practice big bale storage tips to help you protect your bales.
English (217 KB PDF)
German (2 MB PDF)
Polish (2 MB PDF)
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The 11 Commandments for Successful Bale Silage Production
Certain “rules of the game” need to be observed for optimizing silage production and to preserve the high nutrient content of the fodder and safeguard hygiene. This brief guide highlights the key aspects to consider when making silage.
English (177 KB PDF)
Polish (200 KB PDF)
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Time and Height of Cutting – Maximising the Yield per Year
For the production of high quality and high quantity bale silage, the time of cutting the crop must be chosen according to plant development, while soil conditions will determine the height of cutting. This guide provides practical tips on the ideal time and height of cutting to maximise yield per year.
English (273 KB PDF)
Polish (231 KB PDF)
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Pre-wilting and Estimating Dry Matter Content of Grass Silages
Successful silage production requires rapid pre-wilting to achieve an optimal dry matter (DM) content. This enhances the ensiling processes and reduces the breakdown of protein as well as the amount of fermentation fluid. This guide provides guidelines for estimating DM content and on the required duration of pre-wilting in relation to the height of the grass and whether conditions.
English (208 KB PDF)
Polish (195 KB PDF)
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Getting the Most Out of Your Bale Silage Wrap
By observing a few simple rules, farmers could reduce losses and increase the nutritional content of every bale. This practical guide looks at factors such as film type and width, the number of layers of wrap used, plus storage and handling techniques. Much of the advice in the guide is based on independent research.
English (613 KB PDF)
French (155 KB PDF)
German (132 KB PDF)
Polish (170 KB PDF)
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Effective airtight wrapping
To obtain the best possible results when wrapping bales, it is important to pay attention to two key factors: the structure and density of the bale and the effectiveness of the airtight cover. This guide provides tips on the number of layers of wrap per bale needed for each of the widths to create an effective airtight barrier.
English (163 KB PDF)
Polish (185 KB PDF)
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