We utilize following forage for silage making: Natural pasture grass, unchopped/chopped and maize stover unchopped.
The
coarser
the
forage,
the
tighter
you
have
to
pack
it.
Therefore
we
have
developed
different
designs
of
silage
pits
to
use
for the different types of forages.
One
of
the
most
crucial
and
important
aspects
of
designing
a
good
silo
is
to
ensure
that
withdrawal
amount
of
ready
silage
is
a
minimum
of
4”,
still
better
6”
of
the
opened
silo-face
every
day.
Removing
less
will
expose
the
ready
silage
to
the
air
for
too long which will drastically reduce it’s feeding value for your cows.
The
cheapest
way
for
chopped
forage
is
to
build
it
up
in
long
heaps
above
ground,
compaction
can
be
achieved
through
walking
over
it
(tractor
run
over
it
would
be
more
effective...),
build
it
up
to
2
metres
high,
6
metres
wide
and
try
to
continuously
cover
it
up
by
polythene
sheeting
as
soon
as
a
couple
of
metres
of
fill
are
achieved.
Your
cows
will
love
this
silage,
spoilage
is
minimal
as
flooding
is
impossible
and
as
long
as
the
cover
is
air-
and
water
tight
the
silage
will
remain
good
quality
for
many
years.
Whole
stalk
maize
stover
can
also
be
integrated
into
layers
of
chopped
grass
but
must
be
chopped
when fed. Our longest silage pits of this design are about 70 metres long and carry 100 trailers of grass.
If
you
have
no
machinery
at
all,
not
even
for
rent,
the
best
way
(and
in
the
long
run
even
cheaper
option
than
above)
to
make
silage
is
to
harvest
long
grown
natural
grass,
slightly
dry
it
(a
day
will
do)
and
store
it
in
vertical
pits
(their
diameter
should
be
slightly
less
than
their
depth
or
hight).
Cheap
design
and
building
plans
are
available
for
those
interested.
Walking
over
it
is
even
more
important
with
this
type
of
silage,
especially
if
unchopped
forage
is
used.
This
type
of
silage
can
be
fed
whole
or
chopped
after
removing
it
from
the
pit.
The
greatest
disadvantage
of
this
way
of
silage
making
is
that
once
opened,
the
forage
must
continuously
be
fed
until
all
is
used
and
it
doesn’t
store
well
over
the
next
rain
season.
Only
remedy
for
these
problems is to build a roof over the pit to prevent rain water from entering inside the silage which would totally destroy it.
Three
years
along
and
we
have
reached
the
point
that
we
can
no
longer
afford
to
hire
a
tractor!
Despite
of
all
our
efforts
we
are
sinking
so
deep
that
we
surely
soon
will
be
coming
out
in
China...
So
we
have
settled
on
the
following
method
of
silage
making,
instructions
to
build
the
pit
and
many
pictures
are
included.
Building
the
pit,
all
inclusive,
costs
exactly
the
amount
you
would
pay
to
hire
a
tractor
for
the
same
amount
of
forage
harvested!
But
the
pit
can
be
reused
for
years
to
come
and
wastage/spoilage
of
forage
is
close
to
none.
Also
the
polythene
sheeting
used
to
cover
the
silage
is
less
than
a
quarter
than
when doing it the conventional way. So apart from being much more environmentally friendly it is extremely cost effective!
Silage
is
our
most
important
fodder
reserve
to
get
the
dairy
herd
through
the
dry
season.
In
bad
years
the
dry
season
may
last
from
November
till
May
without
a
drop
of
rain.
Then
all
animals are fully dependent on being fed.
Apart
from
our
23
year
old
Canter
we
own
no
other
motor
vehicles.
All
tractors,
trailers
or
other
machinery
pictured
are
hired and must work hard to repay their rent.
Below a very short insight into the “art” of silage making...
