Alfalfa silages were made in pilot- and
farm-scale silos, and five sealing treatments
were compared. After 90 days, sealing dramatically
reduced dry matter (DM) losses at the
5 and 10 inch depths in the farm silos and at
the 0 to 12, 12 to 24, and 24 to 36 inch depths
in the pilot silos. Extending the storage period
to 180 days in pilot silos had no effect on DM
losses for sealed or delay-sealed silages, but
DM losses for unsealed silages continued to
increase at all three depths. Placing a roof over
the unsealed, farm-scale silo increased the
silage DM content at all three depths, increased
storage temperatures at the 10 and 20 inch
depths, and reduced DM loss at the 10 inch
depth compared to the unsealed silo without a
roof. Rainfall was much above normal (16.8
inches during the first 90 days of storage; 11.2
inches the second 90 days) and contributed to
huge increases in the moisture content of silage
at the lower depths in the unsealed, no roof,
pilot- and farm-scale silos. Sealing also increased
the nutritive value of the silages at the
5 and 10 inch depths.
