PLANNING FOR SILAGE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 9

PLANNING FOR SILAGE

Early Decision Necessary

Farmers should decide early what areas they will save for silage, states the Department of Agriculture. As a guide the average yield of silage crops is six to seven tons an acre. A dairy cow on sparse grazing requires 501 b of silage a day and a milking cow feeding autumn-saved pasture 35 to 401 b of silage a day as a supplement. To winter 1000 ewes about 150 tons of silage would be required with grass and possibly other feed. Normally fields should not be closed for silage until a surplus of grazing becomes apparent. Fields should then be closed throughout spring as they can be spared. The main object should be to keep the pasture in a leafy stage for grazing and to close sufficient other fields for silage or hay to obtain this. The time of closing varies according to district, but generally paddocks can be closed from September on. The department considers it is wiser to close paddocks which were grazed during winter rather than those which contained autumn-saved pasture. Valuable Grazing The earlier a paddock can be closed for silage the better the aftermath. This aftermath is very valuable grazing in early summer. Later closed paddocks may take 12 weeks or more before being ready for ensiling. When paddocks are closed in September or early October this first flush of spring growth can be made into silage in eight to nine weeks. Containing much leafy material such silage has a high nutritive and digestibility value. To ensure early harvesting only those fields which are dominantly ryegrass and white clover should be closed. If closing dates of silage paddocks are spaced so that areas are ready for cutting at regular intervals, much better silage can be made, due to better control over time of cutting. First cuts from lucerne areas may conveniently be made into silage, as weather at this time is frequently unsuitable for making hay..