Minimal DM Losses in Bunker Silage at Ekenås Farm

Ekenäs Farm in Södermanland, Sweden, is a 400-hectare organic dairy farm with 200 cows and 180 young stock, renowned for minimizing dry matter losses in bunker silage. A 2012–2014 SLU study found its average DM loss at 4.7%, far below the national average of 14.1%. The farm achieves this through slow, thorough compaction using a towed wagon and forage chopper, overnight silo exposure, and after-packing before sealing with plastic and a sand layer. This method enhances silage density and limits oxygen exposure. The farm’s practices—avoiding silage additives, using narrow silos, and a step-ladder feeding system—reduce spoilage and improve efficiency. Key success factors include filling speed and airtightness, with slower filling and meticulous compaction proving critical. The study also explored dual-silo filling with compaction tractors, which halves individual silo filling speed but improves silage stability and density.