Hay silo (or haylage) is made from grasses that are cut, harvested and stored to feed farm animals. It is composed of cultivated grasses, such as the common hay, but has a higher humidity level. Thanks to the appropriate equipment and conservation techniques, the method of obtaining the hay-silo significantly increases the nutritional value of the forage and decreases the losses in the cultivation of grass destined to turn into hay.
Steps
Step 1. Grow the herbs that will be harvested to make the hay silo
Normally these are alfalfa, clover and Bermuda grass, but other types of herbaceous plants and legumes are also suitable for this conservation technique.
Step 2. Use a mower, cutter bar or shredder to cut the lawn
You should proceed as soon as it begins to flower for higher value nutrition and higher yields.
Step 3. Let the crop sit until it has lost about 30-50% of its moisture
The drying time varies according to the climate, the type of forage and the depth of the layers when it is spread or cut. The grass must wither, but not fade too much, and it must weigh a lot less than when it was mowed.
Step 4. Make hay bales with a regular hay baler, legalize them when they have reached a uniform size and wrap them in shrink plastic
Usually these maneuvers are performed using a large machine designed for this purpose, so it would not be practical to use it for rather small operations or to do some experiments.
Step 5. Wrap the bale in shrink plastic in the traditional way, standing it up and wrapping it all around until it is closed in at least 3 or 4 wraps of film
Squeeze it sideways and make the same number of turns from end to end to seal it completely.
Step 6. Store the bale in such a way as not to puncture the wrapper, and place it under sheltered shelter or on clean, smooth ground, free of sharp stubble or rocks sticking out of the ground
If you puncture the film, air can enter the bale, causing mold or deteriorating the contents.
Step 7. Check the hay before feeding the animals
Acids will form due to fermentation inside the package, so expect a sour smell, but the presence of dark or brown spots, noticeable mold or other signs of deterioration indicate that the hay-bin may no longer be suitable for feeding the livestock, especially horses.
Step 8. Make the hay-silo bales using a square baler if you don't have the equipment to handle large round bales
Since the round bales can weigh up to 700 kg, hydraulic hoists will be required to move them and special hooks that do not puncture the bales, specially designed for this purpose.
Step 9. Handle square bales carefully
Since the moisture content is higher than normal hay bales, silo hay bales are much heavier, so you'll need to stack them carefully. You can put them in high-strength airtight plastic bags, saving you the trouble of wrapping them with shrink wrap, as described above.
Advice
- Feed the hay-silo by building a raised hay platform or cart with sidewalls to minimize losses. Usually this type of silage is not eaten if placed on the ground and trampled by animals.
- Mow the lawn to produce hay silo when the weather forecast is favorable, and only mow the amount you can pack and store at optimal humidity.
- It is necessary to determine the moisture content of the hay-silo. If the humidity is below 45-50%, the silage risks heating up, becoming unusable. The recommended humidity level is 50-60%.
- You should allow forage cut and left to dry below 45% to dry out sufficiently for regular hay bales, which have 10-20% humidity.
