Förluster i olika ensileringssystem

Abstract: In Sweden the climate makes it impossible to feed fresh herbage to cattle during many months of the year. During periods when preserved forage must be supplied it is important that this forage is stored in such a way that high quality is retained, both nutritionally and hygienically. Furthermore, it is essential that losses occurring when handling and storing the forage are kept as low as possible. This study compares storage in tower silos, bunker silos, big bags and bales,estimating dry matter losses as well as losses in metabolizable energy and crude protein that occur during storage. The results show that tower silos, bunker silos and big bags, the systems with the largest amount of forage and a long feed out period involve larger losses than bales, which are fed out immediately after being opened. As the feed out rate influences the losses, tower silos and bunker silos should be used during the period of the year when the feed out rate is as high as possible, i.e. in winter when all animals are kept indoors. In autumn and spring, bales or big bags are to be preferred. Smaller farms should use bales or big bags also in winter to assure the feed out rate to not be lower than recommended.