Advices

The high quality hay silage is source of dry substance, protein, minerals and vitamins. The hay silage contains a constant nutritional value, which in opposite to green food does not change with the different weather conditions and during aging of plants.

The preparing of forage by ensiling process is the dominant method for collecting food for cattle, especially for winter feeding. The influence on nutritional value of silage has quality of row material and also regularity of ensiling process.

The botanical composition of meadow also decides about value and quality of grass forage. The most valuable raw material for silage is a mix of grasses with small seed variety. The small seed level of 20-40% in mix of grasses allows to increase the protein’s content of the crop. Also improves the content of macro- and microelements in forage. That mix of grasses increases digestibility of food with no need to fertilize the soil with nitrogen. Also herbs enrich taste of forage.

The best and most economical way to use grasses is ensiling process. Well prepaid hay silage is a guarantee of nutritional success and allows for high efficiency of milk receiving. Hay silage is prepared with dried plants with contents of 40-60% of dry material.

Grasses for silage process should be mowed in growth phase for high nutritional value.

The best time to mow the grass is afternoon time because of the highest concentration of nutrients, especially carbohydrates. The quality of the grass is also affected by cutting height. It is recommended to mow on height from 5 to 8 cm. This allows to reduce pollution and proper regrowth of grass.

Very important factor of a successful silage is also proper humidity of raw material. Fresh grasses are not proper material. This is because they contain a lot of water and protein compounds, but not much carbohydrates. As a result there is formed acetic acid with very strong fragrance, not well accepted by animals.

The quality of film has an enormous impact in ensiling process. Avoid “special offers”, mostly it could be very poor quality films, often being such a simple stretch film, which in no way can guarantee the quality of the forage and is not suitable for this type of application. Therefore we recommend AGROPERFECTA products, meet high standards of agricultural products, in order to obtain the highest quality of forage.

Dry grasses are subject for easily ensiling , provide good quality silage with no nutrient losses. It should be dried to 35-40 % content of dry material. This could be reached after two days of drying, while under well conditions after only one day. At that level of dry material growth of lactobacilli is substantial, while rise of acetic acid is stopped.

Dried grasses can be collected by baling handle, wrap with foil to prevent access of air, can be prepared in silos or heaps, and during the preparation process can be added silage additives. Additives usually contain high quantity of carbohydrates like sugar, molasses, cereal middlings and chemical and biological preparations.