Dodgy silage analysis

[PREES]

We cut our first cut on 10th May and we have just had the analysis which is giving an ME of just 9.9 mj! To me that seems way too low. There were no signs of heading and we use mainly later heading varieties.

 

[HarryB97]

The cold and wet spring with little sun or heat will be the culprit. My first cut is disappointing which is annoying as last years was also worse than normal.

 

[Mc115reed]

funnily enough I know a lot of dairy farmers complaining about poor quality first cuts… if only there was some tool available too chew out the dead shite over winter and give a nice spring flush not to early so it doesn’t turn too crap before the weather is available too cut it

oh wait

 

[Wesley]

funnily enough I know a lot of dairy farmers complaining about poor quality first cuts… if only there was some tool available too chew out the dead shite over winter and give a nice spring flush not to early so it doesn’t turn too crap before the weather is available too cut it

oh wait

I hope thee have donned thy tin hat after such a statement…I’m just going to sit back & watch from the sidelines

 

[Wesley]

We cut our first cut on 10th May and we have just had the analysis which is giving an ME of just 9.9 mj! To me that seems way too low. There were no signs of heading and we use mainly later heading varieties.

Test it again if you really feel it’s wrong. It’s only a tiny sample they take out of generally a very large heap. So it may not be a true representation. But like others have said it’s been a funny year so far. I think there will be a big variation in qualities throughout the uk. Could be a fun winter!

 

[Mc115reed]

I hope thee have donned thy tin hat after such a statement…I’m just going to sit back & watch from the sidelines

Pulled the pin, threw the Grenade and now I’m ducking for cover

 

[DaveGrohl]

funnily enough I know a lot of dairy farmers complaining about poor quality first cuts… if only there was some tool available too chew out the dead shite over winter and give a nice spring flush not to early so it doesn’t turn too crap before the weather is available too cut it

oh wait

Or everyone could just calm the fekk down and wait a little. Sunshine and heat is a thing when it comes to energy in grass.

 

[Mc115reed]

Or everyone could just calm the fekk down and wait a little. Sunshine and heat is a thing when it comes to energy in grass.

Sunshine and heat don’t help when youv got a field full of old feggy shite thats good for nothing other than bullock hay

 

[DaveGrohl]

Sunshine and heat don’t help when youv got a field full of old feggy shite thats good for nothing other than bullock hay

On 10th May?

 

[Mc115reed]

On 10th May?

If it’s been sat doing nothing since the 10th of September the previous year yes…

 

[Will Blackburn]

At least if you cut it early you’ve got a small pile of shite rather than a large pile of shite.

 

[Bald Rick]

funnily enough I know a lot of dairy farmers complaining about poor quality first cuts… if only there was some tool available too chew out the dead shite over winter and give a nice spring flush not to early so it doesn’t turn too crap before the weather is available too cut it

oh wait

Sheep are the devils work.
The keep fee doesn't pay for the damage they inflict on the sward or the nights of disturbance when Plod is in on the phone because they have gone off to see if tarmac tastes better than grass

 

[Farmer Keith]

No surprise really if you remember the photos of people silaging in the mud that were being posted early May then also consider how small the flush was which is a pretty good indicator of how poor grass quality was.

 

[Jdunn55]

funnily enough I know a lot of dairy farmers complaining about poor quality first cuts… if only there was some tool available too chew out the dead shite over winter and give a nice spring flush not to early so it doesn’t turn too crap before the weather is available too cut it

oh wait

Ex sheep farmer here (not a day goes by when I miss them )

They do absolutely f**k all for silage quality in well managed silage ground

 

[In the pit]

Mine silage grass was grazed by cows as usual and came out at 18% protein and 11.1 me

 

[PREES]

Mine silage grass was grazed by cows as usual and came out at 18% protein and 11.1 me

Our silage fields were all grazed until Xmas by sheep so that can't be the reason for such a low ME! We have made 11 ME silage previously hence why I am questioning the analysis. We have had two taken (but by the same feed rep!?) and both were low but I just can't see why they should be so low (9.9 mj ME) hence I was wondering whether others were getting low results or whether they have changed the formulas??

 

[Nathan818]

Our silage fields were all grazed until Xmas by sheep so that can't be the reason for such a low ME! We have made 11 ME silage previously hence why I am questioning the analysis. We have had two taken (but by the same feed rep!?) and both were low but I just can't see why they should be so low (9.9 mj ME) hence I was wondering whether others were getting low results or whether they have changed the formulas??

Formulas won't have changed as far as I'm aware. What about the rest of the sample? What's the ndf like? Protein, lactics and vfas?

 

[deleted user 837354]

Pulled the pin, threw the Grenade and now I’m ducking for cover

I was tempted to write: 'that's what you'll get from making silage with a wagon' but wasn't brave enough.

 

[bar718]

Silo samples are a good way of getting an indication of what type of stuff is in the clamp but the best way of checking if the sample is right is feed some as the cows will tell you exactly if what the piece of paper is saying is right.

 

[Horn&corn]

Watching a lot of silage being made earlier this year I’d say quality is generally going to be very poor and it’ll be an expensive winter. Simply not enough sun or warmth to drive sugars and get the quality up.
We haven’t tested our clamps yet as there’s nothing that can be done and prefer to test once clamp open and can test whole face