Understanding dry matter losses

Dry matter (DM) loss is often called silage ‘shrink’. When silage shrinks, there is less available silage.

In addition, these dry matter losses are made up of the more valuable nutrients such as sugars, starches and soluble proteins. This leaves a higher concentration of lower-value nutrients, like fibre and ash.

Risks of dry matter loss

Dry matter losses occur by two primary means:

• Losses during the initial fermentation (ensiling)
• Aerobic spoilage losses

With spoilage losses, the key is to prevent or delay the growth of spoilage bacteria, yeasts, and subsequently moulds, that grow when oxygen gets into the silage at feed out. This can result in silage heating. Dry matter losses can occur once the silage face is exposed to air during feed out. 

Making silage is storing energy

Potential problems

• Reheating and energy loss
• Low aerobic stability due to insufficient lactic and acetic acid
• High amount of non fermented sugars
• Material not used fast enough, face of clamp open for too long
   

Financial benefits of silage additives

✓   The average UK maize crop costs around £450 / acre to grow
      At 18t / acre = £40 / tonne FW (32% DM)

✓   Poor clamp management can lead to considerable losses
      Untreated maize can average 15% loss
      Loss of 45 tonnes of DM for every 1000 tonnes of FW ensiled
      Costing £3,736 in total or 3.74/tonne FW

✓   Silasil Energy will help reduce losses in the clamp 
      If DM losses are cut to 5% saves 30 tonnes DM
      Worth £2,490 in total or £2.49/ tonne FW

For more information

For more details about reducing your dry matter loses contact our specialists here or visit our product pages:

• Silasil Energy XD
• Silasil Energy BG
• Silasil Energy C
• Silasil Energy G
• Silage feedstock calcuator