Feeding Grape Waste

[kfpben]

Every year I have a source of free grape skins in Sept/Octobet which I feed to the cattle. The product is a bit like citrus pulp and the cattle love it.

Up to now I have been feeding small quantities fresh but would like to find a way to ensile them. The problem is that it is available 10 tons or so at a time every 2-3 days for 6 weeks. This means they can't be made into clamp silage. Ideally some kind of static baker/wrapper would be good but I've never seen such a machine.

Would an Ag bag work? Can you seal/reseal them fairly easily? Does anyone have experience of feeding fruit waste that comes in over a prolonged harvest that could give me some tips? Thanks

 

[CopperBeech]

Could you wrap it like they wrap shavings?

 

[DanM]

Orkel make a machine called an mp2000 which is designed to bale and wrap loose material on site. Perhaps if you contacted them, they could point you in the direction of a local contractor with one?

 

[kfpben]

Orkel make a machine called an mp2000 which is designed to bale and wrap loose material on site. Perhaps if you contacted them, they could point you in the direction of a local contractor with one?

Great idea, not heard of that before.

I'll look into it. Thanks

 

[andybk]

we used to ensile maize silage in small quantities half tonne at a time buy putting a new silage bag inside a builders bag ,filling bag and sucking air out with a vacuum cleaner , (old vax carpet cleaner , just to be careful of moisture ) , two zip ties to the seal bag , can then be moved and stacked with a tractor , (you could prob wrap whole lot with a bale wrapper for long term storage and less chance of inner bag getting punctured )

 

[Kidds]

we used to ensile maize silage in small quantities half tonne at a time buy putting a new silage bag inside a builders bag ,filling bag and sucking air out with a vacuum cleaner , (old vax) , two zip ties to the seal bag , can then be moved and stacked with a tractor ,

I believe folk do similar with apple pulp from cidermaking.

 

[kfpben]

we used to ensile maize silage in small quantities half tonne at a time buy putting a new silage bag inside a builders bag ,filling bag and sucking air out with a vacuum cleaner , (old vax carpet cleaner , just to be careful of moisture ) , two zip ties to the seal bag , can then be moved and stacked with a tractor , (you could prob wrap whole lot with a bale wrapper for long term storage and less chance of inner bag getting punctured )

What's a silage bag? I've used wrap on bales and sheets on a clamp but a bag? Just a big bin bag?

Good idea though- may have to work on the other half before I pinch the household vacuum cleaner for this!

 

[Philip Watkins]

What's a silage bag? I've used wrap on bales and sheets on a clamp but a bag? Just a big bin bag?

Good idea though- may have to work on the other half before I pinch the household vacuum cleaner for this!

Before wrappers were invented, round bale silage was made in big black bags.

 

[andybk]

What's a silage bag? I've used wrap on bales and sheets on a clamp but a bag? Just a big bin bag?

Good idea though- may have to work on the other half before I pinch the household vacuum cleaner for this!

yes , but a lot heavier duty than bin bags , but you cant lift them about easily hence the builders tote bag , one of those fert bags would be better (bigger) but you need to find a new one unused so you can get in the top easily .

 

[Newby]

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161708644033

 

[andybk]

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161708644033

£3.99 each !, think MVF were £1.00 -2.00 last time we used them .