The process of silage making is all about ensuring an efficient fermentation to reduce the loss of pasture quality.
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This requires the pasture or crop to contain the correct dry matter when it is ensiled.
There are very low losses in quality (energy and protein) and dry matter if the wilted crop is in the pit or bale within 24 to 48 hours after mowing.
- Frank Mickan and Sam Flight
The target dry matter is between 35 and 50 per cent for baled silage and 30 and 40 per cent for pit or stack silage.
The time taken for the pasture or crop to wilt to the required dry matter has an impact on the quality of the silage.
There are very low losses in quality (energy and protein) and dry matter if the wilted crop is in the pit or bale within 24 to 48 hours after mowing.
After this time, quality losses increase substantially, and so does the risk of rainfall on the mown pasture.
Faster wilting can be achieved through a combination of management and equipment.
Management options to achieve a faster wilt include cutting lighter crops, typically early in the season; allowing the dew to lift before mowing or tedding; and timing mowing with fine weather conditions, as much as possible.
Use a tedder straight after mowing
Leaves contain thousands of stomata per square centimetre.
Stomata are essentially holes in the plant that allow moisture to move in and out during respiration.
Stomata only remain open for one to two hours after mowing, and the warmer the weather conditions, the faster they close.
Once the stomata are closed, the rate of wilting is substantially reduced and wilting time extends.
Using a tedder to spread the forage as thinly and evenly as possible straight after mowing, while the stomata are still open, will increase the rate of moisture loss by 50 to 80 per cent for a few extra hours.
Bruising of leaves and stems will also occur, which will promote faster wilting.
Use the correct type of mower conditioner
Mower conditioners vary in style, which suits specific crops.
Tyned and flail mower conditioners are most suited to pastures, younger lucernes, clovers and vegetative cereal crops; while roller mower conditioners are more suited to stemmier crops, such as cereal cut with a seed head, summer forage, for example sorghum, and mature lucernes.
The operator’s experience, speed of mowing, clearance settings, machinery maintenance and width of swath can all affect the rate of wilting.
And remember that the quality of your silage is only as good as the pasture you cut.
