Looking for any advice about white mould in silage. It has been confirmed as mycotoxin of various forms including penicillin type. However we have used bugs additive for last 3 years and silage has not improved . It is a late crop harvested as one crop in early July and is quite dry. Ensiled with cling sheet and top sheet. Purchased a shear grab to minimise disruption to pit face but still getting pockets of mould within the bite of silage . Using a clay binder in our ration to mop up the mycotoxin but it's all added cost ! It's for suckler herd and followers, use big bale silage for ewes and it is perfect. We have a large pit , 60 feet wide , and it's been suggested that we don't get across it quickly enough . Any thoughts , experiences , remedies?
Disappointing silage
- Thread starter Silly silage
- Start date
ollie989898
Member
If it's too dry the fermentation will have been sub optimal and it won't be acidic enough to effectively preserve it. Getting across the face faster will help. Mycotoxin binders (toxi-sorb?) will see you for the rest of this season but take care with the crop being too dry (or too wet) this year. If it's hot and dry get it raked up and into the clamp on time before it goes too dry.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Is it on the face if so that's secondary fermentation as like you say your not going back fast enough
- Location
- Cornwall.
Once getting beyond 30%DM some inoculant begin to struggle I tend to switch customers over to our Arable Silage inoculant which works far better & in a slightly different way.
In saying that you don't know the DM until very close harvest and ordering the correct inoculant is difficult.
I would suggest using a product which combines feed preservatives Sodium benzoate and Sodium nitrite which is are a safe to use format.
These preservatives will inhibit the growth of moulds and yeasts.
In saying that you don't know the DM until very close harvest and ordering the correct inoculant is difficult.
I would suggest using a product which combines feed preservatives Sodium benzoate and Sodium nitrite which is are a safe to use format.
These preservatives will inhibit the growth of moulds and yeasts.
beefandsleep
Member
- Location
- Staffordshire
+1 for the feed preservative. I’ve used it for the last 4 years and virtually zero waste and very stable at feedout.
- Location
- Cornwall.
Well, this is confusing two threads on the same subject! 
Any chance in merging the two @Rob Holmes @Shutesy ?
Any chance in merging the two @Rob Holmes @Shutesy ?
beefandsleep
Member
- Location
- Staffordshire
In fact I would go as far to say that the preservative if the best thing I’ve ever used as far as silage making goes, you still need to pay attention to the basics regarding cutting at the right stage, optimum wilt and good clamp consolidation but since I’ve used the preservatives I’ve fed every blade of grass that’s gone into the pit and the face is always cold to the touch.
For years I accepted as normal having to fork off up to 6 inches of mouldy crap off the top of the clamp, I wouldn’t make silage without it now.
(I expect a discount this year now @Great In Grass).
For years I accepted as normal having to fork off up to 6 inches of mouldy crap off the top of the clamp, I wouldn’t make silage without it now.
(I expect a discount this year now @Great In Grass).
- Location
- Cornwall.
Your discount is the amount of silage you've not had to throw away over the winter.
Not a good enough answer? Thought not.
Next on my list to do is work out an early order discount I'll message you once I'm done.
agri knives
Member
- Location
- middle of ireland
I never have any waste on top of the pit or sides of the pit and I never use additive . if you have waste on top of a pit you are not sealing the pit properly.
serf
Member
- Location
- warwickshire
Could you put something like this down middle in future and will always clear a side every year, have smaller face to work off and following year start on alternate sides so will always clear up and have no silage at back getting old .
Forager needs to be going into the field as the mower leaves with old july first cut grass. You wouldnt need an additive either but it needs to be chopped short
Sorry my mistake I reposted same message. New to this forum format.Well, this is confusing two threads on the same subject!
Any chance in merging the two @Rob Holmes @Shutesy ?
agri knives
Member
- Location
- middle of ireland
We never have a problem with wagon silage in July.
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
Is soil contamination a possibility? I concur with the comments on silage stability with a very dry silage.
- Location
- northumberland
No use in having the newest/biggest/fanciest sp forager in the field with a fleet of hi spec trailers if the guy on the pit hasn’t got time to roll it properly, then covering
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Is it rolled enough?
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Could you get away withjust putting preserver on the top layer?
agri knives
Member
- Location
- middle of ireland
A lot of pits are not rolled by heavy enough machines , very rare to see any loader working here on a pit under 15 ton .
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
You only need a huge shovel if using a self propelled chopper
A manitou does a good job for most folk
nails
Member
- Location
- East Dorset
, how did we make silage with a DB1394 and a push off buckrake on the pit, no mould , pit open for best part of a week .? If you have mould in the silage which is not secondary fermentation it came in on the grass. Late cut July grass in a wet year can be pretty manky in the stem.