Roughage tour grass - week 17
Doubts and experiences about silage
Now that the beautiful mowing cuts are back in the land, the trick is to apply the right strategy to win them in the best way. Only then can the cows produce optimally from the yield. An silage agent can make possible contributions to milk production. What experiences do the participating dairy farmers have with the Boerenbusiness Roughage tour with this?
Silage agents can optimize feed and ration efficiency. Reducing the conservation losses increases the yield of roughage. A number of the participants of the Roughage Tour use silage agents for the 1st cut. The table below shows the silage products and the experiences of the dairy farmers.
| dairy farmer | silage agent | Experience |
| Bert Wissels (Gld.) | Agriton EM Silage | Fairly high pits, works very well against overheating |
| Robert Welhuis (Dr.) | Silosolve | Get the pit stable quickly |
| Silvain Kusters (Li) | Ecosyl 66 | Satisfied, adds to the pit |
| Sander Vijverberg (ZH) | Bonsilage FIT G | Better preservation |
Application
The silage is applied to the participants who use it during chopping or the loader wagon via a dosing system. The dosing system ensures that the silage is homogeneously distributed throughout the silage. This does not just apply to everyone. For example, Roel Assies (FL) states: "we make pits ourselves, but we don't have a dosing system". The purchase of such a dosing system must outweigh the results. Assies may want to purchase a dosing system in the future.
Doubt about earning back
But not every dairy farmer uses an silage agent. For example, Frank Rooker (NH) makes a lasagna silage and does not use silage agents for the first cut. In a later cut, which is ensiled on top of the 1st cut, an silage agent is used. Joost van Nostrum (NB) indicates that he sometimes uses silage, but has doubts whether the investment will pay for itself. He therefore chooses not to structurally use an silage agent. Jan Henk Waterink (OV) thinks the same about this. He indicates that it is too expensive to use in the pit and therefore does not choose it.
Reuben van der Maas
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