Strategies to Reduce Silage Storage Losses

Strategies to reduce silage storage losses are critical for maintaining high forage quality and enhancing farm resilience. Proper harvesting, packing, and storage techniques minimize dry matter losses—ranging from 3% (poor) to 1% (good) in direct ensiling, and up to 18% (poor) to 3% (good) from top spoilage and feed-out. Key practices include increasing silage density, using lactic acid-based additives, employing high-oxygen-barrier plastic films, and ensuring consistent feed-out rates. These measures improve feed efficiency, animal health, and productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact. Effective monitoring and planning throughout the silage process are essential. Fermentation additives must be correctly dosed, and plastic films should be recycled. The project was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme under grant agreement No 101000770.