Making Tower Silage:

Creating tower silage, also known as silage towers or silage bags, is a space-efficient way to preserve forage. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making silage in a tower:

1. Selecting Site: Choose a flat and well-drained area for setting up the tower. The location should be accessible for machinery and away from potential contamination sources.

2. Tower Setup: Erect a sturdy tower structure made of metal or concrete. The tower should have a base, walls, and a top opening for filling.

3. Plastic Lining: Line the inside of the tower with heavy-duty plastic sheeting. This will help seal the tower and protect the silage from direct contact with the tower walls.

4. Base Layer: Start by placing a layer of chopped forage at the bottom of the tower. This base layer acts as a foundation for the rest of the silage.

5. Chopping and Loading: Harvest the forage at the appropriate stage and chop it into small pieces. Load the chopped forage into the tower using machinery.

6. Layering and Compaction: Alternate between adding layers of chopped forage and compacting each layer using tractors or specialized packing equipment. Ensure even compaction to minimize air pockets.

7. Additive Application (Optional): Depending on factors like moisture content and weather conditions, you can apply silage additives to enhance fermentation.

8. Filling and Packing: Continue adding layers of chopped forage and packing them down until the tower is filled to the desired height. Compact each layer as you go.

9. Top Layer and Closure: Finish with a final layer of chopped forage at the top. Make sure the top layer is compacted well and level with the opening of the tower.

10. Sealing the Opening: Close the tower’s top opening with a plastic sheet and secure it tightly. This prevents air from entering and starting the fermentation process.

11. Weighting and Covering: Place heavy materials, such as tires or sandbags, on top of the sealed plastic to create pressure and maintain an airtight seal.

12. Fermentation Period: Allow the silage to ferment. The natural fermentation process converts sugars into lactic acid, lowering the pH and preserving the forage.

13. Opening the Tower: After the fermentation period, carefully remove the weighted materials, unseal the plastic cover, and expose the silage. The top layer might show spoilage, but the underlying silage should be well-preserved.

14. Feeding and Storage: When feeding the tower silage to livestock, discard the spoiled top layer and continue using the preserved silage from below. Seal the tower after each use to maintain quality.

Tower silage offers an efficient way to store and preserve forage while minimizing space requirements. Proper layering, compaction, and sealing are essential to creating high-quality silage.