Preserving and storing an adequate and nutritionally suitable winter feed supply is an essential part of livestock production in western Canada. With feed costs making up a major portion of total livestock industry expenses it is essential that the most efficient and effective method be used. Silage offers the opportunity of consistently putting up high quality feed with a minimum of harvesting losses despite weather. Timely harvesting will minimize losses resulting in silage of a high quality. The ensiling process itself does not affect the quality of the feed. Low quality silage can result from a lack of understanding of the process, poor planning, or inadequate or imbalanced equipment, labor, or storage facilities. Before making a long term commitment to put up silage, it is necessary to estimate the relative merits of various systems, especially total costs, availability of labor, need for consistent high quality feed, how well harvesting utilizes existing equipment and can be integrated with other farm operations. If a silage system is selected it pays to understand the process well and to do it correctly.

Address: 3rd fl JG ODonoghue Building, 7000 - 113 Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 5T6
Telephone: 780-643-1840
Fax: 780-643-1771
Website: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/for4912