silage clamp temperatures

[Warnesworth]

Does anybody have an opinion on how hot a silage clamp should get?
This clamp has been open and slowly filled for about 10 days now. Out of interest I stuck a thermometer into it to see how hot it was ( it felt pretty hot to the touch) I was quite shocked to see the reading!

For those of you that cannot read it, it says 46.8 degrees (celsius)

Its rye/triticale, not made by me I hasten to add!

 

[The Son]

This clamp has been open and slowly filled for about 10 days now.

There is your problem, fill it quick, roll as you fill it and sheet as soon as the last trailer is in.

 

[grumpy]

heat is good up to a point if cold you just have grass not silage

 

[Warnesworth]

So you wouldn't say it's too hot then?

 

[Warnesworth]

Meant to add that I would of thought at that temperature the crop is spoiling not ensiling?!

 

[RobFZS]

are you filling with a double chop or something?

 

[Warnesworth]

are you filling with a double chop or something?

No. Jaguar with a gas drum in it. Short chop length is what we need.

 

[Great In Grass]

Hot = Bad, Cold = Good, did you apply an additive?

 

[Great In Grass]

Was the clamp sheeted every night?

 

[Warnesworth]

Hot = Bad, Cold = Good, did you apply an additive?

That was my understanding. No additive applied. I am just monitoring the outcome, not my silage. But the 'contractors' should be paid on a results basis, not a tonnage in the clamp basis so it's their loss!

 

[Warnesworth]

Was the clamp sheeted every night?

No, apparently that's not the done thing any more! See above.

 

[Thick Farmer]

It will probably be edible. I wouldn't expect it to win any prizes though!

 

[trebor07]

Looks to dry to me. What is dry matter ?
The dryer the crop goes, the longer the chop becomes through the chopper, no matter how many knives in the drum. We cut out Rye almost spot on this time, the chop is a lot shorter than that with a biogas drum.
Some of ours has warmed up on the face of it, warm to touch but doesn't steam when you cut it out. Not really worried. Feeding some fresh out of a small clamp just to see what its like, Gas production has increased !

Rye is quite crucial to cut, as it dries down very quickly. Depending on how much you have to cut, you need a big chopper to get it all in at the correct time.

Regarding covering the pit every night, I think with the size of some of these pits that have been made, its a massive job to just clamp once, let alone every night !

We didn't apply additive, never have done, always haven't needed too. I hate giving money to this ever increasing army of people jumping on the additive for biogas bandwagon.

I would rather spend the money on the biology of the plant, rather than silage additive.

 

[grumpy]

So you wouldn't say it's too hot then?

that is a bit to hot but it will still be ok i take it that it isnt for dairy cattle and just one big cut?

http://www.uoguelph.ca/plant/perfor.../S4-Heat damage in hay crop silage-76-007.pdf

 

[mushnt grummmble]

Looks to dry to me. What is dry matter ?
The dryer the crop goes, the longer the chop becomes through the chopper, no matter how many knives in the drum. We cut out Rye almost spot on this time, the chop is a lot shorter than that with a biogas drum.
Some of ours has warmed up on the face of it, warm to touch but doesn't steam when you cut it out. Not really worried. Feeding some fresh out of a small clamp just to see what its like, Gas production has increased !

Rye is quite crucial to cut, as it dries down very quickly. Depending on how much you have to cut, you need a big chopper to get it all in at the correct time.

Regarding covering the pit every night, I think with the size of some of these pits that have been made, its a massive job to just clamp once, let alone every night !

We didn't apply additive, never have done, always haven't needed too. I hate giving money to this ever increasing army of people jumping on the additive for biogas bandwagon.

I would rather spend the money on the biology of the plant, rather than silage additive.

dorset wedge style

 

[The Son]

Looks to dry to me. What is dry matter ?
The dryer the crop goes, the longer the chop becomes through the chopper, no matter how many knives in the drum. We cut out Rye almost spot on this time, the chop is a lot shorter than that with a biogas drum.
Some of ours has warmed up on the face of it, warm to touch but doesn't steam when you cut it out. Not really worried. Feeding some fresh out of a small clamp just to see what its like, Gas production has increased !

Rye is quite crucial to cut, as it dries down very quickly. Depending on how much you have to cut, you need a big chopper to get it all in at the correct time.

Regarding covering the pit every night, I think with the size of some of these pits that have been made, its a massive job to just clamp once, let alone every night !

We didn't apply additive, never have done, always haven't needed too. I hate giving money to this ever increasing army of people jumping on the additive for biogas bandwagon.

I would rather spend the money on the biology of the plant, rather than silage additive.

What gas yield do you think you are getting.
We cut the first drilled last friday, and doing the rest tomorrow, did but an additive on, but it is the first time I have used it and I am very sceptical.
I am really impressed with the crop, going by a trailer and clamp filled basis it has yeilded no less than maize, but we will weigh it into the feeder so will get an accurate yield.
Have now planted rye grass after to try and get a cut late september.

 

[Warnesworth]

Looks to dry to me. What is dry matter ?
The dryer the crop goes, the longer the chop becomes through the chopper, no matter how many knives in the drum. We cut out Rye almost spot on this time, the chop is a lot shorter than that with a biogas drum.
Some of ours has warmed up on the face of it, warm to touch but doesn't steam when you cut it out. Not really worried. Feeding some fresh out of a small clamp just to see what its like, Gas production has increased !

Rye is quite crucial to cut, as it dries down very quickly. Depending on how much you have to cut, you need a big chopper to get it all in at the correct time.

Regarding covering the pit every night, I think with the size of some of these pits that have been made, its a massive job to just clamp once, let alone every night !

We didn't apply additive, never have done, always haven't needed too. I hate giving money to this ever increasing army of people jumping on the additive for biogas bandwagon.

I would rather spend the money on the biology of the plant, rather than silage additive.

My take on silage is that we spend very large sums of money on growing the crop and getting into the clamp, feeding it and then moving and spreading the residue. I am prepared to spend a little extra (in the form of additives and covering the clamp every night etc etc) to ensure that we make the best silage possible so that it produces the maximum gas yield per tonne. Then I have effectively reduced the total tonnages I have to cart about - three times! And probably reduced the area of land set aside to grow the crop etc etc.

But then I do agree, we also spend significant amounts on the biology and additives also.

My problem is that contractors (in my view) don't know how to make good silage - tin hat firmly on head

 

[trebor07]

My take on silage is that we spend very large sums of money on growing the crop and getting into the clamp, feeding it and then moving and spreading the residue. I am prepared to spend a little extra (in the form of additives and covering the clamp every night etc etc) to ensure that we make the best silage possible so that it produces the maximum gas yield per tonne. Then I have effectively reduced the total tonnages I have to cart about - three times! And probably reduced the area of land set aside to grow the crop etc etc.

But then I do agree, we also spend significant amounts on the biology and additives also.

My problem is that contractors (in my view) don't know how to make good silage - tin hat firmly on head

You are right, there are contractors and contractors!!
You know if you've made good stuff by the energy you are producing per tonne of dm.

So do you sheet up properly every single night ? What quantities are you chopping ?

Don't use many additives in the digester at all, just add a few things once a week! that side is abit secretive !

 

[thesilentone]

The simple basics of making good silage are 1) Cut when ready, this will depend on the usage (eg: Dairy, Beef, Energy). Their is no economical substitute for good silage. 2) Ensile, consolidate and sheet as quickly as possible. As soon as the grass is cut the quality is decreasing.
The fact that your silage has heated to such a high temerature means it has already lost (burned off) alot of the protiens, this is caused by lack of consolidation and exposure to air.
DM and Chop Length are considerations that usage, clamp space and good old mother nature play a major part in, these are educated decisions.
For energy usage, cutting short is an advantage (not always popular with contractors with grass). Grass has a loger retention time than maize and a higher N value, therefore fast incorporation into the process is critical if a floating layer is to be avoided. Chopping alone may NOT be sufficient if grass is a major part of the feedstock and further pre-treatment may be required.
Unless you have a very small thermometer, this material looks rather long.

Basic stuff guys........

 

[J B]

It will probably be edible. I wouldn't expect it to win any prizes though!

I assume (ass-u-me) that, as this is in the 'renewable' section, that it's not for feeding???