What size clamp to build

[Tom22890]

Looking at putting a silage clamp in this time instead of bales for our suckler cows. We roughly do about 1000 to 1200 bales a year at the moment but probably would only clamp first and second cut which would roughly be about 400 to 500 tonne of fairly well wilted grass. So I was wondering if anyone knew of some way to calculate how big a silage clamp I need? Any suggestion are welcome

 

[multi power]

750 kg per cubic metre

 

[RWG Contracts]

45'x90'x12' wall height should be enough

 

[multi power]

45'x90'x12' wall height should be enough

That's 1125 tons (assuming I can count)

 

[Philip Watkins]

That's 1125 tons (assuming I can count)

You're about 100t too much, I worked it out to 1030t.

 

[Tarw Coch]

45'x90'x12' wall height should be enough

Longer and narrower would be better when feeding out, especially with drier silage, get across the face quicker, less chance of it heating up. Buck rake drivers on the other hand prefer wide, makes their job easier.

 

[yin ewe]

Build it 30% bigger than you think you need as you'll probably need it at some stage. it'll be a bit more expensive now but cheaper than building again in a few years.

 

[Blue.]

Just build a big concrete pad,use some good bales of their end for walls if you have too.

 

[fieldfarmer]

Try to think what will I need ten years from now? Also If spending on a effluent trap would there be room to put another silage pit next to it in the future so as that it can share the trap. we find 2 silage pits work far better then one .

 

[Kevtherev]

Just build a big concrete pad,use some good bales of their end for walls if you have too.

The old Dorset wedge system all you need is a pad and a good buckrake man

 

[RWG Contracts]

Longer and narrower would be better when feeding out, especially with drier silage, get across the face quicker, less chance of it heating up. Buck rake drivers on the other hand prefer wide, makes their job easier.

Ours at home is only 30' wide but it's a pain to fill and a pain in the winter as you can't put much stuff in it without it clogging space up, that's why I suggested bigger, but I know what you mean

 

[milkloss]

Are you in an NVZ?

 

[Tarw Coch]

Ours at home is only 30' wide but it's a pain to fill and a pain in the winter as you can't put much stuff in it without it clogging space up, that's why I suggested bigger, but I know what you mean

My maize and whole crop are in 30 ft pits which is about right for my acreage and usage, the buckrake man not quite so keen. Never have a problem as far as winter is concerned.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Just build a big concrete pad,use some good bales of their end for walls if you have too.

Oi you, weren't you the one that persuaded me to buy them free standing panels from J P Concrete.

 

[Blue.]

Oi you, weren't you the one that persuaded me to buy them free standing panels from J P Concrete.

Did I persuade you? I never got my commission

I've used bales,but free standing panels are far better.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Did I persuade you? I never got my commission

I've used bales,but free standing panels are far better.

Yes, used bales here too, with various bits of machinery parked against them to stop them moving.

 

[tr250]

Do it double what you think you need or as big as you can afford do it properly and your kids will thank you for it

 

[Tarw Coch]

Do it double what you think you need or as big as you can afford do it properly and your kids will thank you for it

All relevant to the size of your farm, narrower pits are better for silage quality when feeding out, wider better for filling. But I would say there comes a point when another pit is better than a bigger pit so perhaps to future proof the job look at putting a pit where it could be either extended in length or another pit built by its side.

 

[Happy at it]

Have a 120x40x12 which would holds 120acres without going above walls. Guess it all depends on the stock numbers for the width of the clamp, but as already said go bigger than a bit extra......Might save you doing another again. Room to carry over surplus is no bad thing....

Reckon on never having a baler in the yard again, or for very small numbers if your going to the expense of a clamp. Find putting second over first works well here as I can eat both silages at once, instead of having two clamps and two faces to eat....

 

[mo!]

I'd love to have three narrow clamps here. Fill two with grass (we only do first cut) and then fill two with maize, the middle one having been emptied over the summer.