Silage analysis

jfh

Hi
Anyone recommend where I can get silage quality tested? Not sure of some of the bales, perhaps too dry when baled.
Thanks

Hard Knocks

jfh wrote: »

Hi
Anyone recommend where I can get silage quality tested? Not sure of some of the bales, perhaps too dry when baled.
Thanks

Have used these https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/hillsborough-feeding-information-system
Think there’s lab in Oldcastle

Some Mills (Kiernan’s) can test too

RobinBanks

jfh wrote: »

Hi
Anyone recommend where I can get silage quality tested? Not sure of some of the bales, perhaps too dry when baled.
Thanks

I think aurivo Can get it tested. Not 100% maybe it's soils but they definitely do one or the other.

Muckit

I second AFBI. Very professional and cheapest l have found.

AntrimGlens

Muckit wrote: »

I second AFBI. Very professional and cheapest l have found.

They don't offer it any more Muckit, stopped this spring.

_Brian

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Have used these https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/hillsborough-feeding-information-system
Think there’s lab in Oldcastle

Some Mills (Kiernan’s) can test too

We’ve used both oldcastle and Hillsborough in the past. Both efficient, Hillsborough I think works out cheaper but Oldcastle is convenient if your close enough to drop off a sample.

jfh

AntrimGlens wrote: »

They don't offer it any more Muckit, stopped this spring.

Sent them an email anyway to confirm

charolais0153

jfh wrote: »

Hi
Anyone recommend where I can get silage quality tested? Not sure of some of the bales, perhaps too dry when baled.
Thanks

Most feed companies do it.

Muckit

AntrimGlens wrote: »

They don't offer it any more Muckit, stopped this spring.

Ah feck!!!

Dunedin

charolais0153 wrote: »

Most feed companies do it.

Ummmm???

Apologies if I’m sceptical of the feed boys doing it but as a ‘wee experiment ‘ I sent in two samples from the same bale recently but said they were from different fields. First one read 74 dmd and the other 68. I even took them from the exact same spot in the bale.

charolais0153

Dunedin wrote: »

Ummmm???

Apologies if I’m sceptical of the feed boys doing it but as a ‘wee experiment ‘ I sent in two samples from the same bale recently but said they were from different fields. First one read 74 dmd and the other 68. I even took them from the exact same spot in the bale.

Do the same with a lab. Imo, Its bloody impossible to get a representative smaple of quality

MikeSoys

im thinking of doing this to find my DMD for 1st cut and 2nd cut. Cattle in shed already and they seem to lile the 2nd cut so far.
ive used oldcastle for soil sampling in the past hassle free etc.. but struggled back then to understand the soil data. but believe for silage they will provided the DMD %
Is there a site with guidelines on other info they provide like if P.H is 4.5 means you shoud put more x on fields etc?

should i take 2 samples ? 1st cut sample from 2 random 1st cut bales in a tesco bag and same for 2nd cut? any tips on getting sample from round bales?
ta

Dunedin

charolais0153 wrote: »

Do the same with a lab. Imo, Its bloody impossible to get a representative smaple of quality

Why should I have to do another sample with a lab. Surely I should be able trust the sample I gave to the feed merchant.

If it’s impossible to get a representative sample, then it’s a pointless exercise doing it in the first place. As I said in my first post, I literally took the two samples from the same place in the same bale and got significantly different results - luckily it’s free but I won’t be bothered to do it again.

MikeSoys

Dunedin wrote: »

Why should I have to do another sample with a lab. Surely I should be able trust the sample I gave to the feed merchant.

If it’s impossible to get a representative sample, then it’s a pointless exercise doing it in the first place. As I said in my first post, I literally took the two samples from the same place in the same bale and got significantly different results - luckily it’s free but I won’t be bothered to do it again.

i just became a member of a meal supplier, had the sales man out looking at the yard(for the lorry i guess) and agreed on a price. i see on their website there is free silage analysis done by AFBI Hillsborough (i just checked their site based on posts here).. i wonder why the sales man didnt mention this when he was at farm...

Mooooo

Dunno about bales but with a pit it should be taken from multiple cores and mixed together or if the face is open sample should be taken in W shape across the pit face and mix together then.

MikeSoys

Mooooo wrote: »

Dunno about bales but with a pit it should be taken from multiple cores and mixed together or if the face is open sample should be taken in W shape across the pit face and mix together then.

makes sense i guess.. open 3-4 bales take a lump from em for 1 mixed sample and try and repatch the round bales. without making a mess of them🙄

The Nutty M

Sorry for the hijack, didn't want to start a new thread for a small question.

But does anybody know any side effects of feeding high sugar content silage? 8.5%.

Muckit

Develop diabetes?

degetme

What do ye think of these samples?

Muckit

No expert but l think they are very good. I'd be very happy with them! What do u think yourself (Is the main thing)?

degetme

Muckit wrote: »

No expert but l think they are very good. I'd be very happy with them! What do u think yourself (Is the main thing)?

ya I don't think the p.h is good tho. no expert here either. dmd and protein is satisfactory

Muckit

degetme wrote: »

ya I don't think the p.h is good tho. no expert here either. dmd and protein is satisfactory

Dmd and protein are excellent!!
Yes ph should be around 4.6 l think. How would that effect things? Secondary fermentation happen quicker?

Willfarman

Muckit wrote: »

Dmd and protein are excellent!!
Yes ph should be around 4.6 l think. How would that effect things? Secondary fermentation happen quicker?

Yes. My pit silage is heating at the face like a sinn feiner buying a poopy in a orange sash shop.
Bales like that are a great job in my opinion though. If they’re been ate up in the day.

jaymla627

degetme wrote: »

What do ye think of these samples?

Intakes won’t be great even though dmd/protein are good, if you had went with a additive you’d have some silage

degetme

jaymla627 wrote: »

Intakes won’t be great even though dmd/protein are good, if you had went with a additive you’d have some silage

If it got a better wilt would it be the same thing? Contractor didn't come on time to cut it those days.dairy Yearlings and cull cows eating it away. What type of ration would ye feed with it to above stock

Mooooo

Second cut came back poor enough 're dmd and very dry. It's on top of the first so won't have first cut sample till pit is open. May be awkward to manage.

DM 38.9
P 12.7
ME 9.6
DMD 65
Intake potential 103

Was cut in Oct after being grazed post first cut so prob had more stem beginning than a normal second cut.
Bales came back more average

DM 30
DMD 69
Cp 10.9
ME 10.2
Intake potential 95