Farm Silos Research Articles

The effect of dry matter content and silage additives on the fermentation of grass silage on commercial farms

AbstractA total of 1713 samples of silage from commercial farm silos were analysed to investigate the effect of dry matter (DM) content and chemical additives on fermentation as measured by ammonia‐N concentration and pH, Increasing DM content without additive use had a major beneficial influence upon fermentation. When silage DM contents were greater than 260 g kg‐1 83% of silages were well fermented, with average ammonia‐N concentrations of 94 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.36. With diminishing DM concentration the proportion of well fermented silages declined. In the DM range 220‐260 g kg‐1 67% of silages were well fermented with ammonia‐N concentrations of 125 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.30, in the DM range 180‐220 g kg‐1 48% were well fermented with ammonia‐N at 151 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.38 and with DM below 180 g kg‐1 no silages were well fermented with ammonia‐N concentration of 252 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.84.The benefit of chemical additives, albeit at poorly defined and often inadequate rates, was small in comparison to that of increased DM concentration. Below DM concentrations of 180 and 220 g kg‐1, the only benefit was that formic acid decreased ammonia‐N to 151 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH to 4.32 compared with 163 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.43 for untreated silages. Within the DM range 220‐260 g kg‐1 formic acid decreased ammonia‐N level to 104 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH to 4.07, and there was a slight benefit from using sulphuric acid/formalin which decreased ammonia‐N to 117 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH to 4.23 compared with 125 g (kg total N)‐1 and pH 4.27 for untreated silages. Above 260 g DM kg‐1 both formic acid and sulphuric acid/formalin provided a small but consistent decrease in ammonia‐N and pH compared with untreated silages. Chemical additive use conferred no other benefit when compared with untreated silage. Calcium formate/sodium nitrite mixtures and acid mixture use provided no benefit in fermentation compared with untreated herbage.

Evaluation of an experimental silage inoculant in laboratory and farm silos using alfalfa and forage sorghum (1986)

An experimental microbial inoculant dramatically increased the speed of pH drop and rate and amount of lactic acid production in alfalfa at both 60 and 90 F storage temperatures. In two trials with forage sorghums, the inoculant did not affect the silage fermentation at 60 F but it did produce small improvements in silages at 90 F. In general, sorghum silages at 60 F fermented slower and had high pH values, lower lactic acid, and higher acetic acid contents than silages at 90 F. The response to the additive in a farm silo trial was not consistent for the criteria measured. Ensiling temperatures, chemical compositions, and dry matter recoveries were similar for control and inoculated silages. However, calves fed treated silage had a 5.9% better feed conversion, which resulted in 4.4 lb more gain per ton of ensiled crop

Quantification and distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls in farm silos.

Evaluation de la penetration de ces composes dans les poutres de silos et etablissement d'equations permettant de prevoir les taux dans le silo entier a partir de ceux trouves par grattage de la surface interne des silos

Evaluation of a Model Laboratory Silo

Objectives of this research were to evaluate a new type of miniature laboratory silo and describe its use in silage research. The silo unit was designed to study, separately or collectively, variables affecting the ensiling process, such as moisture, temperature, density, light, and additives. In addition, loss of wet weight and fermentation gases could be measured. The capacity of the unit was approximately 250g of forage material with a volume of 463cm3. Laboratory silos were evaluated for three forage crops (alfalfa at two moistures, whole plant corn, and corn stover) and two ensiling periods (3 and 5 wk). They also were compared with farm scale silos for whole plant corn.The laboratory silos simulated farm silos and produced high quality silages from both high moisture alfalfa and whole plant corn. The smaller amounts of substrate permitted closer control of the process and more uniformity of composition of starting material. Dry matter and pH varied least. Variation was relatively higher with carbon dioxide, acetate, and lactate. The 3-wk ensiling produced high quality silages with low pH and high content of lactic acid compared to 5-wk. Lactic acid was predicted accurately, .97 correlation, from pH, titratable acidity, and carbon dioxide output. The pH also was predicted from lactic acid and titratable acidity but with relatively less accuracy, .62 correlation.

Mycofloras of moist barley during sealed storage in farm and laboratory silos

A comparison was made of the mycofloras on freshly harvested barley and on barley stored in farm or laboratory silos. There were few differences in the mycoflora at harvest on samples from five sites. In farm silos field fungi were replaced by storage fungi which included Candida spp. and Hansenula anomala , accompanied by Penicillium roquefortii in the four silos with moisture contents (mc) mostly above 19%. Later, Absidia, Aspergillus, Mucor and Penicillium species grew. In laboratory silos, field fungi died out after about 100 days at mc's over 20%, pink field yeasts had survived for about 300 days at 15–16 % mc, but no storage fungi grew.

Practical Analysis of Cylindrical Farm Silos Based on Finite Element Solutions

Practical Analysis of Cylindrical Farm Silos Based on Finite Element Solutions

The Evolution of American Farm Silos

The conspicuous silo on American farmsteads is the result of an evolving process to store ensilage effectively. From merely indoor stone-lined pits in the ground and exterior wooden rectangular and circular silos of the past, today's silos include the highly mechanical fiberglass and metal (Harvestore) structures. Ensilage has become an important aspect of agriculture, especially in the northeastern quarter of the United States and adjacent parts of Canada. The silo reflects the ongoing changes in agricultural production and in the American farmstead.

Finite Element Formulation for Farm Silo Analysis

A finite element formulation for the analysis of deformation and stress histories in circular farm silos, during sequential loading, has been established. The silage-silo global system is considered as an axisymmetric space structure with the silage assumed as an isotropic piecewise linear viscoelastic continuum contained in an elastic cylinder. The model permits simulation of filling sequence, friction along silo-material interface, and wall deformations. The analysis is formulated in the form of a boundary value problem and approximate solutions by finite element method is achieved through variational techniques. The devised formulation was applied to predict stress histories, deformations, and resulting capacities produced during sequential loading of a 24-ft x 70-ft (7.32-m x 21.35-m) top unloading drained silo, using material constitutive functions that have been previously established through triaxial creep tests on corn silage (mc=68%).

Coatings as Barriers to Prevent Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination of Silage1,2

In past years polychlorinated biphenyls were incorporated into a coating material used on the inside of many concrete silos. These residues subsequently diffuse into silages and ultimately pass into food products produced by livestock that consume the contaminated silage. Twelve coating materials were evaluated to determine if they would form a barrier to residues. Coating materials were evaluated by coating contaminated stave blocks, on test sections in a contaminated silo, and on dairy farm silos that were contaminated.When surfaces contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls were treated with various barrier coatings and exposed to silage, 9 of 12 coatings reduced the concentration of biphenyls in silage compared to silage adjacent to control surfaces. Coatings carried by water or a solvent in which biphenyls are not readily soluble were the most effective barriers. Coating materials with a base coat to seal the surface prior to application of the surface coating were more effective than two applications of a single formulation. Hydraulic cement with an acrylic bonder and water-carried epoxy effectively reduced residues in silage from contaminated dairy farm silos. Concentrations in milk from cows fed these silages were below Food and Drug Administration “temporary tolerance.”

THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF SILAGE EFFLUENT AS A FERTILIZER

Results of the analysis for dry‐matter, nitrogen and major base content of 9 silage effluents obtained from farm silos and 3 effluents from experimental tower silos are presented. The mean values obtained for the principal plant nutrients in the 12 effluents examined were 0·19% N, 0·037% P and 0·38% K. The results indicate that effluents may be a useful source of plant nutrients, particularly when undiluted with rainwater, and that, in general, silage effluents appear to be superior to liquid manure in manurial value.

Nitrogen Dioxide Production from Silage. I. Field Survey1

SynopsisOf 332 farm silos studied in detail, 42% showed the presence of nitrogen dioxide in concentrations considered hazardous. The factors of organic matter, available potassium and phosphorus levels in soils, and the use of sodium metabisulfite as a silage preservative were related to production of nitrogen dioxide.

Recommended Practice for the Construction of Concrete Farm Silos

Recommended Practice for the Construction of Concrete Farm Silos

Proposed Recommended Practice for the Construction of Concrete Farm Silos

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Proposed Recommended Practice for the Construction of Concrete Farm Silos

Proposed Recommended Practice for the Construction of Concrete Farm Silos