September 4, 2003

 

Improve Silage Packing with Proper Weight, Dairy Specialist Advises

Filling the silo rapidly is key to minimizing loss of desirable nutrients due to excessive respiration, heating, fermentation, and mold spoilage from high amounts of air trapped inside the silage pile. But as harvest speeds up and bunker filling rate increases, there is the risk that bunkers may be filled faster than they can be properly packed, says a dairy specialist at North Dakota State University.

"The person packing the pile can compensate for lack of packing time by increasing the weight of the tractor doing the packing," says J.W. Schroeder of the NDSU Extension Service.

How much tractor weight is needed? Schroeder says research has shown that multiplying the number of tons of silage filled per hour by 800 equals the total implement weight needed to do a good job of packing. For example, if a silo is filled at 40 tons per hour, multiply 40 by 800 for a total of 32,000 pounds which is the weight of the packing vehicle needed.

"This can be accomplished by using one bulldozer or two medium-weight tractors," he says. "In addition, when packing, spread out each load so there are less than 6 inches of fresh, unpacked silage under the packing wheels."

"Keep these things in mind as you prepare for the silage-making season," Schroeder says. "You have invested a lot of money in choppers and trucks to reduce loss due to weather related delays. Proper packing weight will also insure quality silage that will last throughout the winter."

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Source: J.W. Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu