Quality Claas machinery along with experience and know-how has Landpower ready to help farmers produce the best silage possible
Silage production is an important aspect of any livestock farmer’s operations.
Perfecting the process, and therefore getting the best quality silage possible, requires a combination of a carefully considered management plan along with the machinery to effectively carry it out.
Landpower and Claas Harvest Centre understands the importance of making every step of the silage-making process a winner and knows what farmers should be looking for along the way – ultimately ensuring they succeed in creating a high-quality product.
Meeting needs
Creating the best silage possible is becoming increasingly important for farmers, with the end product helping to manage on-farm costs, improve livestock performance, assist seasonal feed supply and improve overall farm sustainability.
While these benefits apply to silage as an overall concept, there are even more advantages to be found by ensuring the silage which animals have access to is of the highest quality.
The better the silage quality, the more essential nutrients are retained – something which is crucial towards optimising livestock health and farm productivity.
High quality silage is both more palatable and easier to digest for livestock, while bringing the health and welfare benefits associated with maximum nutrient absorption.
Multiple economic benefits can also be experienced by ensuring silage is of the best quality. Firstly, quality silage reduces the need for expensive feed supplements as the nutritional needs of livestock are already being met.
For livestock being planned for meat production, feeding them quality silage helps to promote better weight gain to reach market weight as quickly and economically as possible.
Dairy cows fed high quality silage can also produce more milk with better fat and protein content, Landpower says, which also increases the farm’s profitability.
High quality silage will also undergo proper fermentation, lowering the pH and reducing the risk of spoilage.
By preserving its lifespan, farmers can ensure a consistent silage feed supply throughout the year while minimising waste.
Creating perfect silage is both a science and an art, Landpower says, and adds that it all begins with the right tools.
These tools are numerous – and Claas has engineered its Disco mower, Liner rake, Jaguar forage harvester and Torion wheel loader to work together seamlessly during silage production.
As both a science and an art, there is plenty which can go wrong during silage production.
Landpower has broken down the process into several steps – including cutting, wilting, additives, compaction, sealing and packing – to help ensure the correct techniques and harvesting tools are used throughout.
Step by step
The first crucial step is cutting, where farmers must make sure silage is chopped at the correct maturity and moisture.
Silage will have very high nutritive value and be very palatable to livestock if it is cut at the right time and is not affected by rain or left on the ground for too long.
Contamination such as soil, debris and ash will often contribute to poorer-quality silage, which is why it is important to cut the crop with the right implement.
Harvesting forage when it is above its respective dry matter ranges often results in mould and yeast growth in the silage due to too much air being trapped between the dry material when packed, so it is best not to harvest over-mature crops.
Well-cut silage should be free from contaminants such as soil, debris and ash.
Ideally, the harvest should be completed within 24 to 36 hours as pasture continues to ‘live’ after being mown, with its nutrient value declining as it sits on the paddock.
Claas’ Greenline and Jaguar product manager Luke Wheeler says using the right machinery can help avoid these problems, while the cutting height should be set to avoid soil contamination.
“Disco Mowers offer the cleanest of cuts with the Max Cut cutterbar and Active Float Hydro-pnematic suspension ensures ground contour following and contamination free mowing,” he says.
“Using mower conditioners or tedders helps break the wax layer on the crop which increases the rate of wilting and decreases the drying time limiting the risk of loosing valuable nutrients.
“Efficient gathering with Claas Liner rakes provides perfect windrows and 3D ground contour following and undercarriages with up to six wheels under each rotor to ensure contour following and contaminant-free forage.
“From the precise cut of Claas Disco mowers, ground adaptation of the Liner rakes and the unparalleled performance of our Claas Jaguar forage harvester, Claas tools can help ensure that your crop is cut to the highest quality.”
The Jaguar forage harvester also comes with easily adapted knife configurations to ensure the correct cut length.
Understanding the processes that occur during fermentation is critical to an effective silage system, Landpower says.
Fermentation-enhancing inoculants speed up fermentation and reduce dry matter losses, which is why farmers should consider using a proven inoculant that improves aerobic stability.
“The Claas Jaguar’s Actisiler 37 additive applicator technology can control flow rates and application, providing on-the-fly response to varying throughput and harvest conditions,” Wheeler says.
The fermentation should be fast and efficient, as a slow and inefficient process leads to considerable activity of spoilage organisms and high nutrient losses.
If fermentation is poor, the silage will be of poor quality regardless of how good the original crop was.
Achieving high quality fermentation and avoiding losses during feedout also requires good compaction.
A silage stack is well compacted when it is difficult to push your fingers into the surface beyond the fingernails.
Stacks should also be well sealed as soon as harvesting is completed to prevent air from entering.
Landpower’s advice is to keep the stack face tight and tidy to reduce aerobic spoilage and avoid heating, because uncovered silage suffers both aerobic spoilage and spoilage losses from rainfall.
Wheeler says the Claas Torion wheel loader will help achieve a well-compacted silage pit.
When packing the silage pit, farmers should select an appropriate clean site and not let loose material gather at the base. When hauling material, debris should not be driven through the clean area by your machinery.
Why it matters
The primary purpose of silage is to be a feed supplement for livestock, and a good quality product will lead to better animal health and wellbeing.
A range of organisms and toxins can be present in poor quality silage, which can significantly impact animal health.
New Zealand-based nutritional consultant Trish Lewis says the smell can help determine silage quality.
“Good grass silage smells sweet, and retains more essential nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and minerals,” she says.
“For healthy, productive livestock, high-quality silage is easier to digest, provides more nutrients and leads to better growth rates, milk production, yields and overall animal performance.”
Claas machinery is distributed in Australia by Landpower and Claas Harvest Centres, with branches nationwide
With machinery and experience to help farmers carry out high quality silage production, Wheeler says the company is ready to help Australians succeed.
“Landpower and Claas Harvest Centre understand the importance of every step in the silage-making process,” he says.
“We’re the trusted choice for professionals who demand nothing but the best.
“Our comprehensive range of equipment is designed to deliver consistent, high-quality results that you can rely on. We know that making perfect silage begins with the right tools.”
The full Claas silage harvesting range can be viewed online at www.claasharvestcentre.com/deals-offers/perfect-silage-partners