I wish I known this years ago. But great video. When my Uncle farmed silage in early 70's, the locals thought he was mad buying silage sheet! We have come a long way.
Excellent video! Thank you so much for making it. It is great to have all the right information in one place and straight to the point. I like the way you're going with the channel. Keep it up!
Absolutely brilliant video, it makes me sit back and smile at the things I’m doing right, unfortunately there’s the same amount of winches when I see/hear the things I’m doing wrong. Very well done
So the very early silage making where they made vacuum silage we’re doing 1 thing right pumping the air out of the silage if they just didn’t let it heat up would be perfect! The 4 hours drying makes sense 5th cut the driest we baled had been cut the morning we picked up
Very good video you explained a lot about making silage and a lot of common sense and rolling your silage pit which you have explained that people don't do and is so important to do
That was a very informative video. Very enjoyable love the sit down chat.look forward to your video. Ps. Tonight my wife two sons and daughter are in our sitting room looking at this video. Everyone is interested regards from wicklow
I’d love to se your fertiliser plan for your multi cut system , so that would be how much artificial nitrogen and slury you spread for each cut and intended harvest dates , I learned a bit off this video thanks 👍
I do cut some Italian. The difference in sugar % is actually quite small, so the idea is you accept less sugar and don't leave the grass down overnight.
Excellent video. For us side sheets are important for our outdoor pits to prevent rain water and wind from getting in. A lot of waste without them. Weight is also important. We found sand bags were not heavy enough and went back to the tyres.
I'm sorry to ask a question on an old video, but when you talk about leaving nitrogen in the grass before cutting for silage, does this include ammonical nitrogen, too?
I agree with most of it not boring at all but making 4-5 cuts of silage and only wilting for 24 hours has the potential for clamp slippage, which I and many other producers have experienced
We actually had real issues with slippage in 2021, no issues since despite wet grass, I think the compactor has definitely reduced the risk. I'm also convinced side sheets make the problem much worse.
Excellent video 👏👏 not convinced with the compactor on wetter silage (kind of turned it to soup which the other cuts slid off🙈) only time we have had a problem. 4 cuts all layered in for consistency
Great Video, personally I'm not a big fan of talking to camera, the key to your success is you linked practise to sound science, after 4 years of studying ag degrees I don't recall a detailed lecture on making good silage, or perfect silage, I watch guys making silage with JCB's dumping buckrake loads in one spot compared to USA where that push the silage up the heap spreading and compacting an inch thick layer, they always have 3 big tractors with lots of weight per chopper 2 rolling and 1 pushing, thanks for sharing
I just got an idea; you could make a weight out of concrete 6 tonne, 12 tonne for the tractor and use that with the train wheels if you wanted more weight.
Interesting video. How do bales fit into all this then? Obviously with your set up it’s not a concern. But for a farmer without the kit and ability you have can they stack up to pit silage?
Excellent informative video, keep it up please. So if you get caught with rain half way through harvesting do you stop until the next day or is best to carry on.
Love all your videos good job,👍You’ve probably been asked this question before. Early June what would be the optimum mowing time with double moors to stop cutting and leave enough dry time? I’ve started at 10 am and stopped at 11 pm, sounds like we are losing quality after 5 pm?
Yeah, mowing after 5 is a bad idea. I pay extortionate prices to get help mowing so it's done before 5. This year I had 3 sets of doubles at times, all mowing done by 4pm.
Really enjoying your content. And great to have an in-depth perspective on things. I hire train wheels when they are available, so an incredible job, Do you grow any other crops? Wholcrop/ maize? Keep up the videos.
The principles the same, timing cutting at the correct stage of growth is probably the most important thing for all silage. Dry matter content should be different for clamps as verses bales, usually bales are 10-15% dryer than clamp silage. Depending on the continent you live on will be a deciding factor as to the amount of film you apply to the bales. Here in Australia I apply 6 layers to ensure longer storage due to UV degradation of the film. Bales are usually the most expensive storage method in $ per ton but are way more convenient than a clamp if you are not using a mixer or smelling smaller quantities each day. We utilise silage and hay across the year on the properties I work on to optimise animal performance!
Great video! Not boring in the least. We’re too small for silage. But realize in a wet year like this has been for us we have to switch from making dry hay to at very least making baleage. One thing that has kept us from ensiling forage has been the issue with butyric acid development. All our milk goes into cheese. Improperly ensiled forage passes butyric acid into the milk and that goes into the Cheese causing Aged cheeses to blow up and burst add they ripen. There are food additives you can add to the milk to prevent this, but they’re expensive and have to be listed on the label as they’re regulated. Have you had trouble with any spoilage or butyric acid-smells like vomit in the silage- since you started using the silage additive? At the moment we’re buying our bales in and their quality is variable. We’re hoping to switch to making our own and get a proper silage baler with chopper knives. The cows really don’t do well on full stem baleage and I think it makes poor quality feed. New to the channel…do you make bales as well?
Great video Andrew. Can you justify paying a contractor €150 an acre to do four cuts? That is very expensive silage if that's the case. In this case would baling all silage be more economical
Interesting.........I think though your comment that the weather doesn't play as big a part as people think is controversial........you say mow mid -day but it does make a difference how fast it drys depending what the weather is .......if its cloudy its not going to dry so fast if its hot and breezy it drys really fast and maybe 24hrs of wilt could well be too long likewise go to the other extreme (your 5th cut for example) when the ground was wet and no doubt there was going to be soil/mud in the silage i definately think the weather/ground conditions will have a negative effect on that silage. probably the conclusion to this is that it is easier said than done to make perfect silage and theres probably a bit of luck attached to it aswell also i think what the weather is doing when the grass is growing in the field makes a difference if its warm and sunny with the right amount of rain to keep it growing that makes better quality grass likewise if its wet all the time grass isn't such good quality or as you said in drought conditions theres not so much goodness in the grass
if you like to try something new i seen one of owner grass customers put strow on top of first cut just when we put in the second cut on top iv herd of fellas putting it on the grown of the pit for first cut as well.
@FarmTheoryNI pretty sophisticated! I absolutely love data and finding ways to use it. But compiling it.. I'm a loose cannon 😂 wish we had that history on our farm.
I recon the more cuts the better. I try for 6. My reasons is u put in the pit what cows do best in the field. Well with in reason. I only cut 4 this years yield way down. Tryin to wait for dry never again. I really hav to up my pit game. It’s not rolled enough. But what bout add f. Wud it not bring the silage to a point wer u need no matter the condition. Same as propcorn in treatin barley.and I understand tbis way more that readin books
My logic of 4 is that I can get 12.1me silage and I am still remaining efficient as I'm lifting a significant crop. If you were set up for more cuts I can see it makes sense.
@@FarmTheoryNI I am tryin to get add f nc. It’s ment to b non corrosive. Cudnt get it lastyear because can only get it from Calvin cave over the water and he wudnt send it over to my meal man but he bout a grain roller of him this year an stuff to put on tbe barley he grew so he might send it over this year. Grass and silage is eather the dearests thing on the farm r the cheapest depending on how u handle it
I wish I known this years ago. But great video. When my Uncle farmed silage in early 70's, the locals thought he was mad buying silage sheet! We have come a long way.
Thank you for your time in answering. it is much appreciated. Jeff wheeler
Another very informative video AW. Thanks and do be encouraged to keep them coming.
Defo one of the best videos ive seen on youtube. Fair play 👏
Great video thanks for sharing all the information on probably the most important job on the farm.
Excellent video, very generous of you to share top tips for making good silage
Excellent video! Thank you so much for making it. It is great to have all the right information in one place and straight to the point. I like the way you're going with the channel. Keep it up!
Thank you! Very hard to find that information otherwise!
Brilliant video as always, great to see someone going more in depth
Absolutely brilliant video, it makes me sit back and smile at the things I’m doing right, unfortunately there’s the same amount of winches when I see/hear the things I’m doing wrong. Very well done
Thanks! I get lots wrong also.
Excellent video.having your own kit really gives you a huge advantage..
So the very early silage making where they made vacuum silage we’re doing 1 thing right pumping the air out of the silage if they just didn’t let it heat up would be perfect! The 4 hours drying makes sense 5th cut the driest we baled had been cut the morning we picked up
Really enjoying your long form videos, found you on TikTok talking about the good old NFU 😂 really enjoying x x x
Thank you very much! I had a nosy on your page earlier, I must watch a video of yours this evening!
Absolutely 💯 stonking share, interesting and equally informative 👍. Absolutely 💯 loved it!.
Thank you! I was unsure if this was a good or bad idea. 😅
Comment for the algorithm to help the channel 👍.
Fantastic video and very interesting! Could you please do a similar video for Maize silage?
Not really since I dont grow maize!
Excellent information..thank you for sharing... in a nutshell.. the" silage " is made in the pit..not with all the fancy machines in the field.
Yes! Excellent summary!!! I'm stealing that!
Very good video you explained a lot about making silage and a lot of common sense and rolling your silage pit which you have explained that people don't do and is so important to do
Excellent Video - Keep up the good work......
Thanks, will do!
I learned alot there. I'm going to watch it again and take notes.
That was a very informative video. Very enjoyable love the sit down chat.look forward to your video.
Ps. Tonight my wife two sons and daughter are in our sitting room looking at this video. Everyone is interested regards from wicklow
Glad you liked it! I'm honestly amazed people watched it.
I’d love to se your fertiliser plan for your multi cut system , so that would be how much artificial nitrogen and slury you spread for each cut and intended harvest dates , I learned a bit off this video thanks 👍
I will absolutely do a video on that.
Well done, are you cutting Italian ryegrass ? We were always told to cut in afternoon when the sugar levels are highest in the grass.
This is true for most silage, sugar is the key to lactic acid production and faster PH crash.
I do cut some Italian. The difference in sugar % is actually quite small, so the idea is you accept less sugar and don't leave the grass down overnight.
Excellent video. For us side sheets are important for our outdoor pits to prevent rain water and wind from getting in. A lot of waste without them. Weight is also important. We found sand bags were not heavy enough and went back to the tyres.
Interesting, we use a few sand bags, my dad hates them. 😅
I’m not a great mean of gravel bags, just purchased kitty sidewall for £1 each which are very good.
I'm sorry to ask a question on an old video, but when you talk about leaving nitrogen in the grass before cutting for silage, does this include ammonical nitrogen, too?
Yep, it all gets broken down to the same Nitrate
Grass, the foundation of ruminate nutrition. I find such topics fascinating
My job is using the sun to make milk via grass and cows. 🤣
Very interesting. Keep ‘em coming!
I agree with most of it not boring at all but making 4-5 cuts of silage and only wilting for 24 hours has the potential for clamp slippage, which I and many other producers have experienced
We actually had real issues with slippage in 2021, no issues since despite wet grass, I think the compactor has definitely reduced the risk. I'm also convinced side sheets make the problem much worse.
Excellent video 👏👏 not convinced with the compactor on wetter silage (kind of turned it to soup which the other cuts slid off🙈) only time we have had a problem.
4 cuts all layered in for consistency
The trailed harvester and longer chop length helps a lot. Definitely an issue with an SP
Great Video, personally I'm not a big fan of talking to camera, the key to your success is you linked practise to sound science, after 4 years of studying ag degrees I don't recall a detailed lecture on making good silage, or perfect silage, I watch guys making silage with JCB's dumping buckrake loads in one spot compared to USA where that push the silage up the heap spreading and compacting an inch thick layer, they always have 3 big tractors with lots of weight per chopper 2 rolling and 1 pushing, thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video ,how much nitrogen do u apply for each cut and what rates do u apply slurry at
From 130kg/ha of N down to 70kg/ha for fourth. Slurry is many light applications. ~5000g/ac
Is that 5000 g/AC in total?
We are 3500/ cut with 90 N both reduced for 4th cut
@@andrewbaird3431 wooooow, 5000gal/ha!! 2000/ac
My brains not working this morning. I meant 5000/ha. Which is 2000/ac
Very informative, what about round bale silage?
Its fine if thats what works for you. For me its slow and expensive.
Excellent video lad
Excellent video very interesting
I just got an idea; you could make a weight out of concrete 6 tonne, 12 tonne for the tractor and use that with the train wheels if you wanted more weight.
We have a 1t weight block also, concrete isn't that heavy for its volume.
@@FarmTheoryNI Fill a box with scrap steel for more weight for volume ??.
Interesting video. How do bales fit into all this then? Obviously with your set up it’s not a concern. But for a farmer without the kit and ability you have can they stack up to pit silage?
Im sure they can, they are a very expensive way to make silage. 💰💰
Excellent informative video, keep it up please. So if you get caught with rain half way through harvesting do you stop until the next day or is best to carry on.
Absolutely carry on. DM is overrated imo.
great video keep them coming👍
Love all your videos good job,👍You’ve probably been asked this question before. Early June what would be the optimum mowing time with double moors to stop cutting and leave enough dry time?
I’ve started at 10 am and stopped at 11 pm, sounds like we are losing quality after 5 pm?
Yeah, mowing after 5 is a bad idea. I pay extortionate prices to get help mowing so it's done before 5. This year I had 3 sets of doubles at times, all mowing done by 4pm.
Also thanks!!
I think this is excellent content.
Thank you!! I was so unsure. 😅
Wat date do u aim for first cut ?? Great videos. Top quaility stuff.
First week of may has been the norm the last few years.
Great stuff thanks
If silage is low Me would feeding some molasses with it make up the energy deficit?
Back on track now, up 2l/cow
Really enjoying your content. And great to have an in-depth perspective on things.
I hire train wheels when they are available, so an incredible job,
Do you grow any other crops? Wholcrop/ maize?
Keep up the videos.
Only grass silage, logic is that where I live its what grows best.
How and what fibre do you add to the diet? Or is it all from a HDF nut in the parlour?
Do you have the silage results not in percentage?
Do you test your bales? Do you do anything different for them as opposed to clamp silage?
The principles the same, timing cutting at the correct stage of growth is probably the most important thing for all silage.
Dry matter content should be different for clamps as verses bales, usually bales are 10-15% dryer than clamp silage.
Depending on the continent you live on will be a deciding factor as to the amount of film you apply to the bales.
Here in Australia I apply 6 layers to ensure longer storage due to UV degradation of the film.
Bales are usually the most expensive storage method in $ per ton but are way more convenient than a clamp if you are not using a mixer or smelling smaller quantities each day.
We utilise silage and hay across the year on the properties I work on to optimise animal performance!
Never test my bales, only do them for surplus paddocks really.
What time are you happy to start mowing in the morning?
10am if there isn't a heavy due. Not saying that's a good idea, I have done it mind you.
What kind of fertiliser do you put on the silage ground and how much do you put on per cut?
Urea or CAN at 80-120kg/ha of N and 0:0:60 as required.
Great video. Whats your thoughts on older style direct cut silage like the double and single chop for small acreage.
It worked in the past, Ad-F would work really nicely in that setup
Great video! Not boring in the least. We’re too small for silage. But realize in a wet year like this has been for us we have to switch from making dry hay to at very least making baleage. One thing that has kept us from ensiling forage has been the issue with butyric acid development. All our milk goes into cheese. Improperly ensiled forage passes butyric acid into the milk and that goes into the Cheese causing Aged cheeses to blow up and burst add they ripen. There are food additives you can add to the milk to prevent this, but they’re expensive and have to be listed on the label as they’re regulated. Have you had trouble with any spoilage or butyric acid-smells like vomit in the silage- since you started using the silage additive?
At the moment we’re buying our bales in and their quality is variable. We’re hoping to switch to making our own and get a proper silage baler with chopper knives. The cows really don’t do well on full stem baleage and I think it makes poor quality feed. New to the channel…do you make bales as well?
Don't make bales. You won't have any issues with butyric acid if you ensile the grass properly. I must add the link to the research, I forgot earlier.
Great video Andrew. Can you justify paying a contractor €150 an acre to do four cuts? That is very expensive silage if that's the case. In this case would baling all silage be more economical
The cost to your contractor is per hour, if they don't charge per hour get a new contractor. 😅 it wouldn't make sense at that price per cut.
Brilliant summary. That research paper looks good too. Do you have any thoughts on wrapped/baled silage?
It's expensive and slow. 🤣
@@FarmTheoryNI you'll have to do an addendum for us with bales!
Really good video. What species make up your swords.
Early and intermediate heading ryegrasses. Try and get a 50/50 split of tetraploid and diploid.
Very good explanations. Silage has always been a black art to most farmers.
Thanks! It's a really complex topic tbh.
Good stuff
Would u ever use silage safe net cover with only oxygen barrier and no black cover??? And no tyres😅
Maybe? 😅 I don't like spending money, hence I'm still on tyres.
Very good video
Thank you!
how do you seal along the wall in your shed
Gravel bags or just tryes, no side sheets
Interesting.........I think though your comment that the weather doesn't play as big a part as people think is controversial........you say mow mid -day but it does make a difference how fast it drys depending what the weather is .......if its cloudy its not going to dry so fast if its hot and breezy it drys really fast and maybe 24hrs of wilt could well be too long likewise go to the other extreme (your 5th cut for example) when the ground was wet and no doubt there was going to be soil/mud in the silage i definately think the weather/ground conditions will have a negative effect on that silage. probably the conclusion to this is that it is easier said than done to make perfect silage and theres probably a bit of luck attached to it aswell also i think what the weather is doing when the grass is growing in the field makes a difference if its warm and sunny with the right amount of rain to keep it growing that makes better quality grass likewise if its wet all the time grass isn't such good quality or as you said in drought conditions theres not so much goodness in the grass
Agree with everything so said. Caveats to everything just had to draw lines somewhere to try and make some useful points.
if you like to try something new i seen one of owner grass customers put strow on top of first cut just when we put in the second cut on top iv herd of fellas putting it on the grown of the pit for first cut as well.
Would help drainage for wet grass I imagine!?
What software have you used to compile this data? Or just excel?
It's my own custom software. Python using matplotlib. You can actually click the dots to show the silage sample.
@FarmTheoryNI pretty sophisticated! I absolutely love data and finding ways to use it. But compiling it.. I'm a loose cannon 😂 wish we had that history on our farm.
What name is he saying for the mower they had up until 2015?
I don't know what this means. 😅
Auto-swather
You are doing a good job of the videos which people will learn a lot keep up the good work good man
Wait so is nitrogen a good thing being high?
Its not, its just not a good reason to not lift your silage if you otherwise would.
I recon the more cuts the better. I try for 6. My reasons is u put in the pit what cows do best in the field. Well with in reason. I only cut 4 this years yield way down. Tryin to wait for dry never again. I really hav to up my pit game. It’s not rolled enough. But what bout add f. Wud it not bring the silage to a point wer u need no matter the condition. Same as propcorn in treatin barley.and I understand tbis way more that readin books
Add-F was brilliant but it was so hard on machinery and required a large volume to be applied.
My logic of 4 is that I can get 12.1me silage and I am still remaining efficient as I'm lifting a significant crop. If you were set up for more cuts I can see it makes sense.
@@FarmTheoryNI I am tryin to get add f nc. It’s ment to b non corrosive. Cudnt get it lastyear because can only get it from Calvin cave over the water and he wudnt send it over to my meal man but he bout a grain roller of him this year an stuff to put on tbe barley he grew so he might send it over this year. Grass and silage is eather the dearests thing on the farm r the cheapest depending on how u handle it
Have you ever had issues with 'cud balls'??
I do get cud balls, not really a big issue.
What the average litres that your silage produces after maintenance?
Approx 3000l MFF, we don't get more than m+12. At the moment we are m+6
If I drop NDF as low as yours then I'd be concerned for cow rumen health as I have no mixer wagon for straw inclusion in diet.
That fella has no diet feeder and tic tok tried to sell him one with no success
I have to be cautious with the parlour nut I feed but we have no issues with rumen health tbh. A few cud balls at times but that's about it.
good video, I disagree v strongly on the testing for Nitrates
Fair enough, I have never tested so just cant understand when people tell me they "cant cut" because their nitrates are to high.
Funny how much more positive the comments are on this, the tiktok keyboard warriors don’t have the attention span for this detail😂
I have notice this also!!
'promosm'
You are very interesting