Silage Analysis

[Mowerzstuff]

I'm very new to analysis of clamp silage as I've only ever been involved in making it & not feeding. Wondering if some members may care to comment on the analysis I've received from the herd manager who doesnt know how to interpret it. I think it's pretty poor as the cows aren't milking too well on it. It's all from organic permanent pasture on a fairly extensive farm it was cut on 20th may last year wilted for 12 hours & chopped with a trailed harvester.
Looking for ideas to improve things this year. Any help gratefully received. Thank you

 

[Jdunn55]

Judging by the dry matter it looks like it was wilted and put away at the correct time imo. Protein is ok but a bit low for my liking and sugars/energy/d value etc are all low. The best way to "fix" that analysis is to reseed it with a new key containing red or white clover imo

 

[upnortheast]

Not a lot of milk in that. To be cut on 20 th may I'm surprised it's as poor as that. Though you don't give your location. Silage can only be as good as the grass you cut, so you need to be giving so thought to that for next year

 

[Beef farmer]

Cut 20th May, but was it grazed out over winter or cut late?

Cant blame the cows for not milking too well.

 

[HarryB97]

It was wilted correctly looking at the dry matter but the protein should be up around 16 the D value in the high 60s or early 70s and the me around 11. When was any of the ground completley reseeded or over seeded? Modern varietys would make a huge difference to the quality and quantity. Depending on where you are in the country the cutting date is either about right or late.

 

[pappuller]

I'm very new to analysis of clamp silage as I've only ever been involved in making it & not feeding. Wondering if some members may care to comment on the analysis I've received from the herd manager who doesnt know how to interpret it. I think it's pretty poor as the cows aren't milking too well on it. It's all from organic permanent pasture on a fairly extensive farm it was cut on 20th may last year wilted for 12 hours & chopped with a trailed harvester.
Looking for ideas to improve things this year. Any help gratefully received. Thank you

The ndf suggests plenty of stemmy material which also reflects the energy and protein low levels. Assessing the quality of the grasses would be the first thing to look at.

 

[davidroberts30]

Cut 3 weeks earlier

 

[Sid]

Cut 3 weeks earlier

And get half the amount.

Need more detail
1st question
Are you organic or is it someone else's land you have harvested ?
2nd
can you plough it

Looks like dry cow feed to me.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

You would think for orgasmic ground, 3rd week of May would be about right.

I'd get it retested before any decisions or actions are taken.

Short term.
Look at Winter/spring management.
Bring forward cutting date if need be.

Longer term look at soils/weeds/seeds.
Introducing a rotation if needs be.

 

[Bramble]

Looks like stuff that might have been cut on 20th June rather than 20th May.

Is it full of rushes/thistles/docks? As others have suggested reseed/oversees with better grasses if you can, probably have to be left till next autumn now

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Should add if you're the contractor, you've nailed your part of the operation

 

[Sid]

You would think for orgasmic ground, 3rd week of May would be about right

Bull shoot.

Cut 1st week of May plenty of years.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Even if it was cut 3rd week of may I think you would struggle to make silage that poor

 

[white_stuffed]

As Beefy suggested, was there a lot of autumn growth carried over ?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Bull shoot.

Cut 1st week of May plenty of years.

Ahh, you're one of these orgasmics with mysterious overnight tramline emergence I guess.

 

[Sid]

Ahh, you're one of these orgasmics with mysterious overnight tramline emergence I guess.

And your one of those farmers that just throws chemicals and antibiotics around willy nilly that decimate the wildlife and cause AB resistance in humans.

Touché

 

[Jdunn55]

Ahh, you're one of these orgasmics with mysterious overnight tramline emergence I guess.

No need for tramlines when you've got clover, slurry and dung

 

[davidroberts30]

And get half the amount.

Need more detail
1st question
Are you organic or is it someone else's land you have harvested ?
2nd
can you plough it

Looks like dry cow feed to me.

half the amount and do it twice
op wants milk not dry cow feed

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Half the amount, twice the quality, I did my smallest ever 1st cut this time, dropped 2 litres overnight when we came off it

 

[Sid]

half the amount and do it twice
op wants milk not dry cow feed

Depends where you are and the year.

I left some 1st cut to bulk up because of the shortage of rain last spring.
Would sooner feed a bit more concentrate than buy round bales at £50 each as saw locally a few years ago!