Protecting This Year’s Forage Crop from Winter Weather

Photo credit: Barry Yaremcio

There are many ways to protect stored forage over winter. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, but the result is a higher retention in quality and a reduction in dry matter losses.

Dry hay under plastic can be protected from the weather by wrapping as individual bales, in long rows (either wrapped or in a tube), or stacked and then covered. If the plastic remains intact, the forage can be stored for several years. Some of the constraints are the cost of plastic, either owning or renting equipment, manpower, and preventing damage by birds and animals. An uncovered 1400 pound bale can shrink up to 18% or 250 pounds over the first winter. Quality loss and voluntary feed intake is also reduced.

There are two common types of round bale silage. Silage with 45 to 55 % moisture goes through the complete fermentation process that makes the product stable.  It can be stored for several years if the plastic is not damaged. Bales made at low moisture, 20 to 35% moisture does not go through complete fermentation. This product will prevent mold formation, and it stores well the first winter. It should be fed out prior to spring. The silage may spoil if kept over the following summer.

Preventing air from entering silage bales is critical to have proper fermentation needed to make high quality silage. It is recommended to have a 6 millimeter thickness plastic to prevent oxygen from getting into the bales, pit, or pile. If wrapping bales, and the plastic thickness is only 1.5 millimeters, then 4 layers are needed. The ends of the row need to be capped off and sealed so that no air enters.

Storing hay under a shed is a good option. The biggest constraint is to match building size to the amount of stored forage needed to feed the herd for the winter. Cost of construction is a concern, but the building should last a long time.

There are many things to consider when storing forage over the winter, but the objective of preventing quality and dry matter losses is common for all systems.

For additional information on storage options for forage and quality, contact Barry at 403-741-6032 or bjyaremcio@gmail.com.