Each cut during the year brings its own challenges and opportunities. The first cut is generally considered to be the most productive and richest in nutrients, but the subsequent growths also make a significant contribution to the feed ration. To ensure consistently high silage quality throughout the season, it is crucial to ensure the right cutting height, optimum harvest time, correct wilting time and structured feeding into the silo for each cut. This is the only way to ensure that subsequent cuts also contribute to a balanced and high-quality forage supply.
Preparations before the start of ensiling
Interaction between meadow and weather
A decisive factor for silage quality is the exact time of harvest. This depends primarily on the stage of development of the grasses and is ideally at panicle emergence. Material harvested too early provides high energy content but little structure. Cutting too late, on the other hand, produces high crude fibre values but lower digestibility. Sufficient time must therefore be allowed to achieve an ideal dry matter content of 30 to 40 per cent.
Logistics for a smooth process
At the same time, logistical processes must be planned at an early stage: access routes, instructions, departure speeds and vehicle idle times all play a major role in ensuring a smooth loading process. Coordination between the loading chain, distribution and compaction must also be organised at an early stage to avoid bottlenecks and ensure continuous filling of the silo.
Harvesting chains are and are becoming more and more powerful, with the roller vehicle often being the weakest link in the harvesting chain. The large harvest quantities can usually no longer be distributed and compacted on time without supporting technology. Before starting, the entire silage chain should be checked for proper function. This includes the inspection and maintenance of bearings, drive shafts, hydraulic components and a visual inspection for damage or wear. This helps to avoid breakdowns during the harvesting window.
Transport silo: cleanliness and structure are crucial
A clean, structured silo area is a prerequisite for low-loss storage. Before loading, the silo should be thoroughly cleaned and old feed residues or fermentation residues removed. The silo walls must be intact to prevent air ingress. Underlay sheets, protective grids, sandbags or tyres should be provided.
MAMMUT silage trailer - the power in the silo
The interaction between distribution and compaction in the silage clamp is crucial for high feed quality and low-loss conservation. The MAMMUT silage team – consisting of silage spreader and silage roller – offers a powerful and tried-and-tested solution. The combination ensures a smooth workflow, even distribution in the silo and high compaction performance, especially when harvesting large quantities.
“The MAMMUT silage trailer gives me flexibility. Despite high harvest volumes in a short time, distribution and compaction is no problem for me. This has enabled me to increase the output per cut. Previously, I had to adapt the harvesting chain to the limited compaction and rolling capacity.”
– Andreas Strobl, spare parts warehouse & technical expert in the field
MAMMUT silage spreader - targeted distribution with a system:
The MAMMUT silage spreader is one of the most robust and efficient solutions for evenly distributing feed in the silage clamp. Thanks to its stable design, high-quality workmanship and adjustable throwing vanes, the device can be used reliably even under the most demanding conditions. Even heavy or moist forage is distributed evenly over the entire silage surface, creating ideal conditions for compaction. The optional swivelling headstock also allows targeted lateral distribution of the material – an invaluable advantage when you need to react flexibly and quickly to heavy delivery traffic. Distribution right up to the silo wall is also child’s play with the swivelling headstock. This not only supports an even silo build-up, but also enables the driver to work particularly safely. In addition, the standard water filling in the silo distributor ensures effective ballasting, which increases the stability of the device and at the same time optimally balances the rolling vehicle.
MAMMUT silage roller - uniform compaction for stable silage:
The MAMMUT silage roller has been specially developed to meet the high demands of modern forage harvesting. Its solid, durable construction and standard water filling ensure flexible weight adjustment and high compaction force. In contrast to the superficial load from tractor tyres, the roller compacts each individual forage layer selectively and deeply thanks to the 20 cm high roller discs. This selective compaction takes place across the entire width of the silage roller and thus increases the efficiency of each pass. The compact compaction reduces air pockets and improves aerobic stability. The MAMMUT silage roller is particularly effective in combination with the MAMMUT silage spreader, which distributes the forage evenly in thin layers. The prepared, uniform layer thickness makes compaction much more efficient and even, which makes a decisive contribution to the quality of the forage. In combination with a coordinated roller vehicle and suitable ballasting, the roller enables highly effective compaction with low overrun requirements – a clear plus for time and resource efficiency. The high-quality workmanship, low-maintenance technology and long service life emphasise the value of this machine for professional use in mobile silos.
Practical tip for the final compaction phase
Particularly towards the end of ensiling, when no more unloading wagons arrive at the silo, a sure instinct is required. Excessive compaction, regardless of the compaction technique used, has a negative effect on the uppermost part of the silage. The compressed structure can be unintentionally loosened and favours undesirable secondary fermentation on the surface. Our practical tip: After the last unloading, lift the silage roller and only recompress with the wheels. This displaces the air in the top layer and the fermentation conditions remain optimal. The silo should then be covered quickly.
Technical check at a glance - quick & uncomplicated:
Both the MAMMUT silage spreader and the silage roller are designed to be low-maintenance. To ensure safe and efficient operation, a short inspection tour is sufficient before starting:
- Lubricate the bearings and moving parts
- Visually check for damage, oil loss, loose connections or play
- Check the function and condition of the PTO shaft on the silage spreader
After insertion
Cover airtight - avoid oxygen
Immediately after rolling, the silo must be sealed airtight. This includes an underlay film, a UV-resistant silage film and a protective cover. All films must be applied without creases and weighted down heavily at the edges. Only an airtight silo can guarantee uniform fermentation without reheating or spoilage.
Observe the fermentation time: Patience pays off
The actual fermentation phase begins after the airtight seal. During the first 6 to 8 weeks, lactic acid fermentation takes place, stabilising the pH values and preserving the feed. The silo should not be opened or travelled on during this phase so as not to disturb the fermentation processes. If you want to ensure high-quality silage at an early stage, you can use silage additives developed for this purpose.
Conclusion: Silage quality starts before the harvest
High silage quality is no coincidence. It starts with precise planning, good observations and optimally prepared technology. If you do everything right when ensiling, you create the basis for a high-quality, stable and economically valuable feed supply. With the MAMMUT silage spreader and the MAMMUT silage roller, the right technology is available for efficient, low-loss and quality-assured harvesting.
