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The importance of UV protection for silage: seal, secure & protect your feed
Maintaining silage quality doesn’t stop once the bunker is sealed. Day to day management plays a huge role in keeping feed clean, cool, and consistent, especially when sunlight, weather, and wildlife start to test your silage storage. Before diving into the science of UV protection, here are a few simple regular maintenance checks worth making part of your routine:
Regular maintenance tips
- Walk your stack often: Check for animal damage or small holes that are easy to miss from a distance.
- Keep everything weighted and sealed: Make sure gravel bags or tyres haven’t moved off joins or edges.
- Stop any flapping plastic: Movement in the wind drastically shortens the life of silage film and your covers.
- Avoid chemical drift: Agricultural sprays can degrade plastics over time.
- Store woven UV covers correctly: Fold UV covers after use and keep them in the shed to extend their lifespan.
Why UV protection matters
Silage is one of the most valuable resources on many farms, and protecting it is essential for maintaining quality, efficiency, and profitability. While packing, inoculation, and sealing are all key steps in the ensiling process, one factor is often underestimated: UV radiation.
Sunlight may look harmless, but UV rays can break down important nutrients in silage, including proteins and carbohydrates. This not only reduces the feed value but can also encourage undesirable moulds and mycotoxins, both of which compromise animal performance and feed-out consistency.
How SilageKeeper UV covers help
SilageKeeper woven UV protection covers provide an additional layer of security designed to maintain silage integrity for the short, medium, and long term. These heavy-duty, reusable covers help by avoiding exposure to sunlight:
- Preserving nutrients: Minimising UV degradation to help maintain the nutritional value of your silage.
- Reducing mould and mycotoxin risk: Lower sunlight exposure creates a less favourable environment for fungal growth.
- Supporting long-term silage quality: Acting as a barrier against weather, wildlife, and physical damage.
- Offering double-duty protection: The tightly woven fabric prevents most animals, birds, and tyres from piercing or damaging your silage film, helping keep oxygen out.
Why this matters for your operation
A well-sealed, well-protected silage stack leads to more reliable, higher-quality feed. Over time, this contributes to:
- Feed security
- Maintain and maximise animal production from conserved forages
- Lower feed costs through reduced waste
- Greater confidence in year-round feed quality
Choosing a robust sealing system helps prevent short-term and longer term losses, and adding a UV protection cover helps ensure your silage remains fit for purpose. Sealed, secure, and protected throughout its storage life.
Now’s a great time to inspect your pits
It’s always worth taking a closer look at your silage area. A quick inspection today can prevent losses tomorrow, and help ensure your animals receive the high-quality feed they deserve.
Published Mar 24, 2026
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