How farm contractors can improve silage quality and efficiency

Farm contractors play a crucial role in helping farmers produce high-quality silage.

Juggling multiple clients and their different silage-making requirements can be a challenging task, but one that many experienced agricultural contractors take in their stride every year. 

John Thomas, regional business manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, shares some expert advice for how farm contractors can maximise silage quality and quantity.

Effective communication is key to successful farm contracting 

Good communication between contractors and farmers is essential.  

Discussing last year’s challenges can lead to improvements for the current season, explains John Thomas. 

He suggests having an open conversation with farmers about what worked well and what didn’t, early in the year. 

“Ideally, by the time it gets to summer, you should have had an open, honest chat with the farmer about what worked well last year and what didn’t,” says John. 

“Reflecting on past issues, like soil contamination or density problems, allows you to make necessary adjustments for the rest of the year.  

“For example, was the contamination issue caused by molehills, cutting height, or the rake?  

“By addressing these early, you can discuss ways to prevent them from recurring, such as by rolling fields.”

Manage silaging expectations and plan ahead 

Managing expectations is crucial for farm contractors, and planning ahead as far as possible ensures smooth operations during silaging.   

“It’s important to agree who will be doing what, so everyone is clear of their role,” adds John. 

“You can also discuss what type of silage the farmer is hoping to make, and agree on cutting dates, chop height, inoculant use, and how they expect the clamp to be filled.” 

It’s important to discuss expectations well in advance, he says. 

“Although plans may need to change depending on the weather, it’s still a valuable opportunity to reflect and plan how this year’s silage-making process can be improved.” 

Find out how smart planning can help farmers and contractors unlock maximum energy from grass silage.

Best practices for silage cutting and clamp filling 

Farmer requirements vary, and some contractors will be expected to decide on the cutting height and clamp-filling process themselves, rather than upon instruction from the farmer. 

John says these requirements play a huge role in the overall quality of silage. 

He recommends cutting grass to a height of 6-8 cm, as this helps promote regrowth and improves feed value. 

“The cutting height is crucial,” says John. “Avoid cutting too low as this slows regrowth and reduces feed value.” 

Chop length should also be dependent on the type of grass.  

“Dry grass requires shorter chop lengths (below 2 cm), while wet grass needs a longer chop length,” he adds.

The role of inoculants in silage quality 

Inoculant choice should also be influenced by whether the grass is wet or dry. 

“A crop- and condition-specific inoculant can help make silage easier to manage, especially in challenging conditions,” explains John. 

“For wet silage, an additive such as MAGNIVA Platinum Grass Wet is designed to ferment the silage better and look after the protein in it. 

“While MAGNIVA Platinum Grass Dry silage additive is designed to improve aerobic stability and stop it from heating up afterwards.” 

The MAGNIVA inoculants are all available in ultra-low volumes, making them easy to handle without the need for large amounts of water, and are designed for easy mixing.

Optimise compaction for better silage preservation 

Effective compaction is key to reducing spoilage in the silage clamp.  

John advocates filling the clamp in layers like a lasagne if multiple cuts are going to be put in the same clamp. 

“When the farmer feeds a full column per day, the cows will get a good mix of all cuts, and it’s handy not to lock the first cut away at the back of the clamp,” he explains. 

John also recommends rolling the silage consistently during the packing process. 

“A good rule of thumb is that the weight of machinery should be 25% of the weight of the forage coming in per hour,” he says.  

“This ensures that the silage is compacted enough to reduce oxygen pockets and prevent spoilage.” 

Prepare the clamp for silage storage 

Contractors should encourage farmers to get their clamps clean and in good working order in advance of cutting, says John. 

Removing old, composted material helps reduce yeast and fungal contamination, improving the silage-making process. 

“While farmers have a significant role in preparing the clamps, contractors should be proactive in checking for any issues,” says John.  

“Ideally, clamps should be pressure-washed if possible, and effluent channels cleared out to ensure they are compliant with regulations.” 

He says that although a clamp will never be sterile, these efforts will result in a lower yeast and fungal load and a much more efficient silage-making process, ensuring contractors’ hard work doesn’t go to waste.

Final tips for contractors and farmers 

“Everything from the cutting height to the inoculant choice impacts the final quality of the silage,” concludes John.  

“Contractors play a critical role in ensuring that the silage season is successful and that the farm’s forage quality meets the herd’s nutritional needs.”  

Learn how our Magniva range of silage additives can help farm contractors optimise their silage-making services, whatever the weather.