An entire season committed to producing high-quality forage can be at risk if managing and maintaining bunker silos falls short.
Practices ranging from silage packing to feedout rate can greatly impact feed quality.
Producers need to manage for quality, and that requires taking steps post-harvest to protect their silage. The first step in maintaining quality in the bunker is harvesting the crop at the correct moisture. Filling and Packing Good silage storage management starts with effective filling and packing. Ruppel recommends filling the bunker as quickly as possible, completing the task within nine days of starting for optimal quality. For the greatest weight per surface unit, use a wheeled tractor to pack at a rate of 800 to 1,000 hour-pounds per ton.