Thanks to Feedlot Magazine for including our tried and true silage-making process in their June 2024 issue.
Silages are part of just about every cattle ration, providing digestible fiber, energy, and protein. Whether you grow it yourself or buy it from a neighbor, taking care of this valuable ingredient is worth the attention to detail. When harvested and stored correctly, you’ll benefit in three ways:
More inventory — the bunker or pile lasts longer with more tonnage and fewer feed losses. Every inch of discolored (black, tobacco brown, or carmel-colored) started as 4 inches of [insert $$ per ton you paid] potential inventory.
Better nutrition — it makes sense that cattle will eat more, gain better, and have less rumen upset when fed a higher-quality feed. Will beef cattle eat the bad stuff? Maybe… but should they? Make good use of every pound of nutrition. How many fewer days will cattle need to be on feed? Could you turn more pens?
Safer working area — silage bunkers and piles are dangerous places, but if we build them correctly, we can increase their density and decrease height, which can help avoid avalanches and falls.
No matter how many harvests you’ve done, there’s always something new to learn and improvements to make. Getting silage harvest right isn’t easy, but planning makes this complicated job less difficult. This 12-step system checklist is fundamental and based on science. The closer you follow the system, the better your outcome. Do as much as you can with your crop, your resources, and what Mother Nature gives you.