Feed-out with less loss
Carefully grown and harvested forage can take a turn for the worse just when you need it most — at feed-out. Silage quality can deteriorate rapidly when exposed to air during feed-out. Oxygen activates yeast cells that degrade lactic acid, starting the process of aerobic spoilage. These losses can be as high as 30 to 40 percent and much of the readily spoiled silage is of high quality.
Losses can worsen depending on the weather. Deterioration is intensified by warmer temperatures. Well-fermented crops with a low pH and high lactic acid content that were cool in winter can be prone to heating and aerobic instability. To reduce DM loss and maintain silage quality, make sure you"re managing silage correctly:
* Feed at the right rate:
- At least 6 inches of silage per day from a bunker silo face
- At least 4 inches per day in the summer for upright silos
- At least 2 inches per day in the winter for upright silos
* Use good face management:
- Do not leave loose silage piled on the floor of the silo
- Keep the face as flat as possible
* Minimize time between taking down face and mixing in the TMR
* Discard all spoiled or moldy silage
Truly improving feed-out stability happens long before the silo or bag is opened. Producers are at risk of losing highly valuable digestible DM once the product is exposed to oxygen and feed-out begins.
At harvest, growers should cut the crop at the right growth stage and target DM range. Then, pack silos quickly and ensure a packing density of no less than 16 lbs. of forage DM per cubic foot. In addition, many dairy farms use an inoculant to promote a front-end fermentation. Including an inoculant to improve feed-out stability with proven strains like Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 at an effective dose level can address the ongoing challenge and save DM — and maintain profitability.
Ask the Silage Doctor at QualitySilage.com, @TheSilageDoctor and at facebook.com/TheSilageDoctor if you have questions about feed-out stability.
