Does Wilting grass for 24 hours or less really make better big bale silage

[Benr]

Feeding 12 - 18 month dairy x continentals
We always try and wilt our grass for at least 48 hours to make silage 40%DM or higher. When we have had to bale it quicker it doesn’t seem to feed as well (but haven’t done a trial by monitoring growth rates), use more bedding and isn’t so nice to handle.
We have got some grass that really needs cutting so do we try and catch 24hours this week or like me do others find drier silage better so best to wait a week and see if the weather improves.

 

[HarryB97]

I'd definitley take drier over wet silage any day of the week, normally we try and make all our bales at 45-50% dm. As the weather is catchy at the minute to say the least it depends if you want to loose quality by waiting. I'd mow and spread full width, ted and then bale. Much rather have slightly wetter silage than have to feed an extra kilo or two of concentrate per day.

 

[Still Farming]

Who wants wet stuff?
Maybe all of us ,if this weather don't buck up a bit?

 

[Benr]

Sorry, if you read various guides about good silage making, they all say wilt for 24 hours or less

 

[ridger]

If it's too dry the meal won't stick to it, and the meal will just lie in the bottom of the wagon

 

[milkloss]

Sorry, if you read various guides about good silage making, they all say wilt for 24 hours or less

Not being awkward but what about haylage?

 

[kill]

I'd definitley take drier over wet silage any day of the week, normally we try and make all our bales at 45-50% dm. As the weather is catchy at the minute to say the least it depends if you want to loose quality by waiting. I'd mow and spread full width, ted and then bale. Much rather have slightly wetter silage than have to feed an extra kilo or two of concentrate per day.

Wetter silage will go through cattle quickly and use more straw but after a reasonably long dry period it may well be a while before another comes along. But it's almost mid summer and one strong bright sunny day will soon dry slightly more mature grass.

 

[Bald Rick]

Sorry, if you read various guides about good silage making, they all say wilt for 24 hours or less

Only because sugars are reducing.
Ideally ted it out almost behind the mower to shed water when the stomata are open (2hr window) then it’s up to you how much you flick it about afterwards

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The way the weather is going we’ll be wilting for an hour

 

[milkloss]

The way the weather is going we’ll be wilting for an hour

Did some like that the other day. The moco thrashed the water off it and straight in the forager. Trailers were heavy but going onto dry stuff in the pit.

 

[davieh3350]

Only because sugars are reducing.
Ideally ted it out almost behind the mower to shed water when the stomata are open (2hr window) then it’s up to you how much you flick it about afterwards

A good reason to have a conditioner on the mower, get it drying asap.

 

[Bald Rick]

A good reason to have a conditioner on the mower, get it drying asap.

Yes but I wonder how often people actually adjust the “aggression” for different cuts/growth stage?

 

[gone up the hill]

Feeding 12 - 18 month dairy x continentals
We always try and wilt our grass for at least 48 hours to make silage 40%DM or higher. When we have had to bale it quicker it doesn’t seem to feed as well (but haven’t done a trial by monitoring growth rates), use more bedding and isn’t so nice to handle.
We have got some grass that really needs cutting so do we try and catch 24hours this week or like me do others find drier silage better so best to wait a week and see if the weather improves.

Young grass that is high in sugars needs a good 24 hour wilt, this mostly applies to grass cut in May/ early June, after that as the grass gets older you can wilt it for less time ( first cut )

But if its dull and not drying any grass will need 24 hours but of its really sunny and hot with a good wind come this time of year its fine to cut in the morning and bale late afternoon.

I used to make all dry haylage but have now switched to making wetter grass silage as that has more feed value and less wastage and the best stuff is always what is cut in the morning and baled late afternoon.

Only concern with doing that this year is the grass is still very young and lush due to it growing late and very quickly due to the dry weather, everyone is itching to cut but the weather windows just aren't long enough.

Long dry settled spell coming the end of the month around the 27th onwards.

 

[simmy_bull]

I can see the benefits of rocket fuel for dairy cows. For suckers or feeding cattle there’s got to be a tipping point at which it’s more costly using the extra straw if your feeding them wetter stuff?

 

[ridger]

I don't see the point of making all leafy silage then having to feed straw to keep it in the cows. Why not wait a week or 2 and make more bulk and not much less quality and no straw needed

 

[multi power]

Young grass that is high in sugars needs a good 24 hour wilt, this mostly applies to grass cut in May/ early June, after that as the grass gets older you can wilt it for less time ( first cut )

But if its dull and not drying any grass will need 24 hours but of its really sunny and hot with a good wind come this time of year its fine to cut in the morning and bale late afternoon.

I used to make all dry haylage but have now switched to making wetter grass silage as that has more feed value and less wastage and the best stuff is always what is cut in the morning and baled late afternoon.

Only concern with doing that this year is the grass is still very young and lush due to it growing late and very quickly due to the dry weather, everyone is itching to cut but the weather windows just aren't long enough.

Long dry settled spell coming the end of the month around the 27th onwards.

Grass cut in the morning is too low in sugar to make good silage

 

[multi power]

I don't see the point of making all leafy silage then having to feed straw to keep it in the cows. Why not wait a week or 2 and make more bulk and not much less quality and no straw needed

Exactly, silage is for feeding, straw is for bedding

 

[Benr]

Ours is getting overgrown, needed doing last week. Won’t be any problem of too much leaf! Question is really will it be just as good or better even at 30-35%dm snatched this week or wait a week or 2 and make haylage of it. But by then it will be half dead

 

[Stewartry hill]

Grass cut in the morning is too low in sugar to make good silage

I know that but when should you stop at night

 

[multi power]

I know that but when should you stop at night

When it gets dark