Once the silage pit is opened for winter feeding, it needs to be well managed to limit spoilage and prevent fodder from heating. Outlined are five tips to managing an open clamp this winter.

1. Sharpen the shear grab

The shear grab must be sharp to cut cleanly and seal the new pit face. If the shear grab is hacking at silage and pulling clumps out, then it is time to visit the workshop.

Leaving a ragged, uneven pit face from a blunt shear grab will increase air contact and the amount of heating in the pit. As silage heats, it uses up energy that would otherwise be available to cattle.

2. Move across the pit face as quickly as possible

You should aim to move across the full pit face over the course of one week to keep silage fresh and prevent heating or spoilage.

If it is taking longer than one week to utilise the pit face, then take shallower grabs of silage, as this will speed up the rate you move across the clamp.

3. Cut from top to bottom

It is also important that you take blocks out in order. This means working in columns from top to bottom.

The benefit of this is that it reduces the surface area of the pit face, thereby reducing the amount of air that silage comes in contact with.

Do not try to cut extra blocks from one part of the pit to suit certain cattle groups. All this will do is increase the amount of waste silage accumulating, as neglected parts of the pit will be exposed to air for too long.

4. Only remove the cover as needed

Pulling back the cover on a silage pit is a job few people enjoy. Only pull back enough cover to expose the amount of silage needed for the week ahead. Pulling back the cover too far increases air contact and the amount of spoilage.

5. Remove waste silage from the top of the pit immediately

Once the pit cover has been pulled back, remove the waste layer from the top immediately. Waste silage can contain mould or mycotoxins and, if left in place, these toxins will be washed down through the pit during periods of rain.

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