Is Silage Cover a Feasible Baling Option?

Silage covers can benefit your farm in several ways. They can increase feed efficiency, protect your feed from weather and animal damage, and help to prevent dry matter loss. In addition, they can help to decrease bloat in cattle.

Protect feed from wind, weather, birds and animal damage

Silage covers from www.unipak.com.au/silage-pit-covers are an effective way to protect your feed from weather, birds and animal damage. They are also a cost-effective alternative to re-bagging. With a silage cover, you can save up to half the money you would spend on re-bagging.

A silage cover is typically made from high-density polyethylene, which is strong and durable. It can be re-locatable or permanent. However, it is important to keep the cover clean. If not, it can be contaminated by other animal waste, rodents, insects, or bacteria.

To ensure that your silage covers are protected, you should use a protective air-tight coating. It can be a silicone, urethane, or acrylic coating. You should have the cover completely dry before using the coating. The amount of coating you need will depend on the type of feed you are covering and the size of the holes.

In one embodiment, protective coating 30 is sprayed or rolled over the outside of the silage cover. It is applied to the cover at 30-40 millimetres. Once the cover is covered, it is dried by a technician.

Another application of protective coating 30 is to repair damaged areas of the silage cover. A protective coating is especially useful when the cover has been punctured or ripped. An application of the protective coating is more than three times faster than re-bagging.

Before coating a silage cover, make sure it is dry. If the cover is not completely dry, the coating can be damaged and leak into the feed. After the covering is done, you can begin to fill the cover with silage.

If you are planning to purchase a cover, you should look into the variety that TekSupply offers. For example, they carry ClearSpan(tm) Fabric Structures, which can be used in temporary or permanent applications. Designed for optimum temperatures for feed storage, the structure is available in various sizes.

Other covers that can help to protect your hay are bale wrap. These can be used to create high-moisture hay or to prevent hay from drying out. Tarpaulins can be used as an inexpensive option for hay protection.

Prevent dry matter loss

Silage covers are used to prevent dry matter loss during baling and storage. They are typically made of polyethylene or polypropylene. These structures are usually used over pyramid stacks or individual bale wraps. Depending on the application, hay stored under cover can reduce shrinkage by up to 30%.

The moisture in a bale determines how much the cover will prevent dry matter loss. Higher moisture content will also decrease the chances of rain damage. Baling at a high moisture content can also reduce leaf shatter losses.

The quality of silage depends on its fermentation. Air exposure during storage affects the fermentation process due to the growth of yeasts and moulds. When air comes in contact with a forage mass, the sugars in the forage are depleted, reducing the palatability of the silage.

In addition to the heat generated by aerobic organisms, sun exposure can shorten a bale’s life span. Likewise, exposure to ultraviolet light can reduce the quality of hay.

Silages that are baled too wet may produce butyric acid. Similarly, silages that are baled too dry will be more susceptible to mould. To minimize the risk of mould and to increase the quality of your hay, always follow the preservative manufacturer’s directions for use.

It is important to avoid air exposure during conservation. A cover should be installed to protect the hay from wind and rain. However, this practice does not compensate for poor drying weather.

Hay stored in uncovered areas should be gravelled to ensure proper vehicle access. If the area is oriented north-south, the cover should be tied down to ensure proper ventilation.

Bloat is a type of indigestion that several factors can cause. One of the main causes is excessive gas in the rumen. Depending on the severity, bloat can be difficult to treat. If you suspect bloat, it’s best to seek the help of a veterinarian.

Aside from the possibility of causing death, bloat can also cause economic loss. For example, if a dairy cow suffers from bloat, she could lose as much as 1% of her annual milk production.

When a bloat-causing plant is removed from the pasture, the potential for bloat decreases, it can be achieved by using herbicides. Alternatively, interesting the legume with grass can dilute its bloat-causing effect.

Another effective method of preventing bloat in feedlot cattle is ensuring that the grains and roughage are not finely ground. Finely ground grains tend to produce a lot of gas. Therefore, they should be avoided.

Aside from limiting access to pastures with high bloat-potential plants, it is important to control the rate of digestion; as cool temperatures increase, a plant’s digestibility increases. Because of this, cattle tend to consume more forage.

While a high-grain ration can reduce bloat in feedlot cattle, keeping the roughage ratio to grain in the ration at less than 10% is better. It will increase the palatability of the ration and reduce the chances of bloat.

Improve feed efficiency

For optimal silage feed efficiency, silage covers are an important part of the process. The cover prevents rain and accumulated moisture from entering the mass and spoiling the hay. It also protects from pests and rodents.

Various silage cover materials, including straw, molasses, candy, and manure solids, can be used. The size of the cover should be 4 to 6 mil thick. However, several factors must be considered when determining the appropriate cover.

In reducing the risk of mould growth, the cover must be free of holes and punctures. Additionally, it should be cleaned regularly. During storage, the cover should be checked every two weeks. If there are any damaged or missing areas, repair them immediately.