The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2018 - Issue 58 | Page 56

56 LIVESTOCK
AUG/SEP 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
Take steps to
head off silage
shortfalls
LIVESTOCK farmers concerned about
shortfalls of silage for winter feeding, after a
mixed bag of grass yields so far this season,
should keep regular tabs on stocks and be
prepared to put extra effort into making
and conserving remaining cuts, a silage
specialist is urging.
According to Ecosyl silage specialist, Colin
Callender, the cold start to the season fol-
lowed by dry spells have left some farmers
questioning whether they will have enough
silage.
“Certainly, it’s been a mixed bag for grass
yields,” says Mr Callender. “Where people
took first cuts earlier aiming for quality,
yields were down. And certainly some
second cut yields have been down because
of dry weather.
“If you are concerned about silage stocks,
the key is not to panic. What you don’t want
to do is aim for bulk at the expense of quali-
ty. Instead, aim for a good balance between
the two and do everything possible to
safeguard against losses in the clamp. Also,
consider alternative silage crop options,”
he adds.
To assist, Mr Callender suggests a three-
point plan:
1. Don’t compromise
what you cut
Don’t be tempted to cut grass too low for
extra bulk, he says, because the stem base
is low in digestibility and cutting too low can
introduce undesirable microbes into the
clamp, causing losses. “Equally, don’t delay
cutting dates of summer grass silage exces-
sively to allow it longer to bulk up. Although
yield may increase, digestibility will almost
certainly fall, and it will leave less time for
growth of any later cuts.”
Additionally, Mr Callender urges rapid
wilting. “Sugars start declining once grass is
cut,” he says, “because they are being used
by the plant, since it’s still living. So, aim to
wilt to 28-32% DM in the shortest possible
time. If you cut in the morning and achieve
rapid wilting, you could achieve 28-32% DM
that same afternoon.”
2. Do pay attention to
harvest and storage
Do plan ahead to keep air out of the
clamp, says Mr Callender. “Use the correct
chop length for the %DM of the grass to
help get the best consolidation, then seal
and weight the clamp fully. By doing these
you’ll not only aid fermentation to conserve
quantity and quality, but also minimise
wastage due to heating.
“Similarly, even if you don’t normally use
one, remember the benefits of a proven
additive. Across 15 grass silage trials, dry
matter recovery was boosted from 91.8%
to 95.5% of the original material ensiled
using an additive containing the bacteri-
um, Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1. That’s
equivalent to an extra 37 tonnes back per
1,000 tonnes clamped.”
3. Do consider alternative
forages or an extra cut of grass
If you are looking short on silage, do
consider other options, says Mr Callender,
such as wholecrop or taking an additional,
late cut of grass.
“It’s possible to get 12-15 tonnes of DM
per hectare from wholecrop wheat. If you
aren’t growing cereals, maybe look into
buying a standing crop. Wholecrop makes
an excellent component in the ration with
grass silage,” he adds. “As with all forages,
effective preservation is essential. Many
farmers opt to make fermented wholecrop,
which is highly palatable and can have a
starch content as high as 35%.
“Ideally it should be harvested at 45-50%
dry matter, which offers a good balance
between providing moisture and sugars for
fermentation and achieving a good starch
content.
Typically, 45-50% DM corresponds to
grain at the ‘soft Cheddar cheese’ stage but
with no detectable ‘milk’.
“For late-cut grass, while wilting can be
more challenging towards the end of the
season, and sugar levels can be lower, if
you ted it properly and use a quality addi-
tive to boost fermentation, you can end up
with a worthwhile product.”
www.cuttoclamp.com