Removing obstacles: Producing quality small-grain silages

By Steve Murty, Vita Plus forage specialist

Producing high-quality small-grain silage presents challenges related to moisture management and the maintenance of anaerobic conditions for optimal fermentation. Ensuring the correct moisture content – 60% to 65% moisture or 35% to 40% dry matter (DM) – is crucial. Silage that is too wet or too dry can lead to undesirable fermentation and reduced DM recovery. Additionally, the hollow stems of small grains can make it challenging to eliminate oxygen, requiring careful packing and sealing to prevent spoilage. Four obstacles to making quality small-grain silages can be removed with careful planning.

1. Moisture content

Moisture content is the first step to producing successful small-grain silages. Silage that is too wet can result in excessive leachate or pile-running, high acid loads, and the potential for clostridial fermentation to develop if the feed sits for an extended period before feeding. The biggest challenge to achieving the ideal moisture (60% to 65%) is the environment and maturity of the crop. Spring weather patterns are inconsistent, and the maturity of the crop advances quickly.  Harvesting at the appropriate maturity stage and with proper wilting is important to achieving the desired moisture content.

2. Packing and sealing feed piles

Packing and sealing feed piles once harvested is the next obstacle. Small grains can be challenging to pack effectively. Inadequate packing allows oxygen to penetrate the silage, leading to spoilage and loss of nutritive value. Short chopping lengths (less than 0.5 an inch) can help improve packing, especially for drier forages. Practicing the ideal packing strategy of small, thin push layers with proper packing weight will help remove this obstacle.

3. Field management

Field management starts with seeding the small grain forage crop. When the seedbed is prepared, the soil loosens to create a smooth seedbed and better seed-to-soil contact. If the soil particles are not firm at harvest – due to either mechanical means or rain – it will create a higher ash content in your small grain forages.

To achieve maximum yield and quality, small grain crops should have manure or commercial fertilizer applied before seeding or at green-up early in the season. These nitrogen applications will help increase the crude protein in the forages. However, there can be a negative side to this application during a prolonged period of drought. If a period of drought is followed by a rain event right before harvest, the crop may load up on nitrogen and not have time to convert it to crude protein. This can create a forage with high nitrate content that must be reduced with good fermentation during ensiling.

4. Fermentation period

The final obstacle to making quality small-grain forages is the fermentation period. Promoting good fermentation starts with the right microbial balance. Imbalances in the microbial population can lead to undesirable fermentation byproducts. Without adding an inoculant, you will not know for certain if the desirable balance of microbials is present.

Vita Plus Crop-N-Rich^® Nexus is a dual-purpose water-soluble silage inoculant.  It delivers L. plantarum MTD/1^® for greater fermentation efficiency and greater DM recovery as well as L. buchneri PJB/1 to reduce yeast and mold growth, decrease spoilage, and limit heating during feedout.  Additionally, farms can expect less protein degradation and ammonia production, greater forage stability during feedout and thus longer bunk life, improved palatability, and less wasted feed. These benefits make it an important tool when putting up small grain silages.

Removing obstacles in your path with proper planning and the right application of Crop-N-Rich Nexus forage inoculant can produce quality small-grain silages. Reach out to your Vita Plus forage consultant to discuss proper planning and inclusion of silage inoculants.