Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/k.60.2.5
HORIZONTAL SILO CLOSURE – IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC FILM?
Marina Vranić
orcid.org/0000-0001-6280-0116
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Krešimir Bošnjak
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivana Čačić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The aim of forage ensiling is to produce ensiled forage for feeding domestic animals. Ensiling involves the fermentation of carbohydrates, most commonly water-soluble, into acids that preserve silage until the silo is open. The success in achieving anaerobic conditions in the silo is inversely proportional to the losses of nutrients in the silo. In ensiled forage oxygen results in loss of nutrients, lower silage intake and lower animal production, possible animal health problems, thus a negative impact on farm economics. The silo closure is the last step in fermented fodder production. The effect of proper and timely silo closure on the quality of ensiled forage is particularly evident in horizontal ensiling where the silo cover should protect a large surface, thus a large amount of ensiled forage from being spoiled. Silo cover must meet certain quality standards and must be adhere to the ensiled forage. For this purpose, mostly plastic films are used with new generations constantly developed. Limitations in the use of plastic film are human labour needed, possibilities of plastic damage, no or limited re-use and a need for a disposal of large amounts of plastic in an ecologically acceptable way. Alternative solutions to plastic films for horizontal silo closure have not yet produced satisfactory results for widespread use in practice because of lower silage nutritive value and / or higher costs compared to the use of plastic film.
Keywords
ensiled forage; silos cover types; silos closure
Hrčak ID:
220221
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2019.
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