Maximizing dairy production from a feeding standpoint is highly dependent upon producing and storing quality corn silage. We spend quite a bit of time talking about proper operating procedures in harvesting corn silage — such as optimum harvest maturity and moisture, particle size, and packing management — but often times forget about feed-out and bunker management.
Today let’s chat about managing the face of the bunker, or what we refer to as feed-out rates. It is well understood that the removal rate or feed-out rate is defined as inches of silage removed from the face (front) of the bunker. It is our feeling that a minimum of 6 inches per day should be removed during the summer and a minimum of 4 inches per day in the winter. A good recommendation when designing new bunkers is to design the bunker to take twice as much per day off the face, thus making a longer (versus wider) bunker that has a smaller face area.
It is also important to remember that as you open the bunker, you should only uncover the amount of silage you need at that time. Excess plastic should be cut off each day, and at no time should two days worth of silage be exposed.
There are many ways to remove silage from the bunker. The most common method is with a bucket loader. When using this equipment, be sure to scrape silage from top to bottom and allow it to fall freely to the floor. We have also used a method of digging approximately six to eight inches into the bunker and then slicing the balance into the cavity. It is important not to use loading techniques that would dislodge the face, as these open areas will allow air to penetrate deep inside the bunker and accelerate spoilage. Many of the larger dairies now use face cutters (rotary drums with teeth) for silage removal. Regardless of which method you use, the most important thing is to keep the face of the bunker tight and smooth.
One other point to consider for future incorporation is bunker covering. It has been demonstrated that plastic films are the most effective cover when properly installed. There are several researchers who suggest that plastic film covers will return $8 to every $1 spent by preventing silage wastage.
Before leaving this message, let’s touch on bunker silo safety. It is important to keep in mind during feed-out that all equipment needs to be on stable surfaces. Avoid any face overhangs (usually a result of undersized equipment), and if you have to work on the top of the bunker, stay away from the face as much as possible in case of face collapse.
There are many additional considerations for bunker management, including plans for bunker construction, so please contact the BASF Plant Science Nutrition Department if you’d like to discuss further.
Jerry Weigel is the manager of nutrition and technical services for BASF Plant Science. He can be reached at gerald.weigel@basf.com.
Tags: BASF Plant Science, bunker silos, corn seed, corn silage, dairy feed, dairy nutrition, dairy production, Jerry Weigel, Nutrition, seed corn
