Cows eating silage in a barn
Listed below are some assisted feeding options options for feeding silage to your stock.. These may not be suitable for your farm, type of silage, or storage method. The aim of this article is to provide you with comparisons, so you can make an informed choice about which option to use..
Windrow on ground in paddock
Suitable for fine chop and chopped bale silage, round bale silage that has been unrolled, or square bale silage fed in biscuits.
Pros
- Requires no expenditure on feed troughs or pads.
- Feeding sites are well-distributed – little damage to pastures/soil.
- Good accessibility.
Cons
- Will need specialised equipment to make a silage windrow.
- Wastage can be very high if animals trample, camp, urinate and defecate on the silage.
- Uneaten silage will be contaminated by soil, particularly in wet weather.
Management tips
- Running a single or double electric wire along the top of the windrow can reduce wastage due to trampling and fouling.
- Avoid overfeeding to reduce wastage. It is better to feed less silage more frequently.
Bale silage fed whole in the paddock
Suitable for round and large square bales.
Square baled silage
Pros
- Little capital cost.
- Feed-out location can be varied to reduce pugging and damage to surrounding pasture.
Cons
- Wastage is high due to camping, trampling and fouling by animals. Under most circumstances this method of feeding will result in the greatest amount of wastage.
- Competition for access may limit intake.
Management tips
- Avoid overfeeding to reduce wastage. It is better to feed less silage more frequently.
- This is sometimes a compromise between providing enough bales to allow reasonable access for a number of animals – may need to provide 2-3 days silage at a time to ensure intake is not limited.
- Silage may then become unstable (heat) over time, increasing wastage and reducing intake.
Bale silage fed whole in a feeder
Suitable for round and large square bales, and chopped silage.
Pros
- Very small capital cost.
- Eliminate wastage due to trampling and fouling by animals.
- Feedout location can be varied to reduce pugging and damage to surrounding pasture.
Cons
- Competition for access may limit intake.
Management tips
- Will require different feeders for different classes of livestock – sheep are unable to use some feeders designed for cattle, and weaner cattle may not be able to reach the centre of the bale.
- With sheep a circle of mesh may be a better option – as the bale is eaten, the sheep can push the circle of mesh around to get at the remaining silage.
Cattle eating silage out of a make-shift trough
Feed trough
Appropriate for fine chop or chopped bale silage. Can vary from inexpensive homemade troughs to permanent concrete feed bunks.
Pros
- Reduces wastage during feedout because – the silage is kept off the ground, preventing contamination by dust and mud, and – animals are not able to trample, urinate or defecate on the silage unless they stand or jump in the trough.
- Suitable for a range of feeds – silage and mixed rations (including dry rations).
- Portable units can be moved to reduce paddock damage.
Cons
- Any aerobically spoiled or uneaten silage must be cleaned out to prevent contamination of fresh silage.
- May need expensive equipment to deliver silage to the trough.
Management tips
- Avoid overfeeding to reduce the need to clean out troughs. A bar or cable over the top of the trough will prevent animals from standing in the silage.
- Permanent troughs are more common on dairy farms, feedlots and some beef properties.
- They should be located near the silage storage site to reduce transport time and must be easily accessed by machinery for feeding and cleaning surrounding area.
Feed pads
Permanent feeding stations, usually associated with dairy farms and beef feedlots. Feed pads can vary enormously in cost of construction, depending on size, roofing, etc. May be used for feeding for a limited time (e.g. after milking) or allow access throughout the day.
Pros
- Reduces wastage during feed-out because the silage is kept off the ground, preventing contamination by dust and mud, and animals are not able to trample, urinate or defecate on the silage.
- Suitable for a range of feeds – silage and mixed rations.
- Allows cattle to be fed in a relatively clean environment, irrespective of weather conditions.
Dairy cow feed pad
Cons
- Any aerobically spoiled or uneaten silage needs to be cleaned out to prevent contamination of fresh silage
- Expensive to construct.
- Requires expensive equipment to deliver silage to the pads.
Management tips
- Avoid overfeeding to reduce the need to clean pads.
- A physical barrier, usually an iron bar or cable, is used to keep cattle from getting into the feed.
- Feed pads should be centrally located, e.g. next to the dairy and the silage storage site, to reduce feeding time.
- Should be designed to allow for easy machinery access at feeding and for cleaning surrounding area.
