Making silage yourself: how to do it right

What is silage and when should you choose it?

Silage is ensiled grass, alfalfa, or a grass mixture preserved through lactic acid fermentation. The dry matter content is around 35–55% for grass silage, and between 45–60% for wilted silage. Horses digest silage well, but it is not suitable for every horse. Insulin-resistant or easily overweight horses are better off on hay or straw. Choose to make your own silage if you have at least 1 hectare of grass available, want to reduce feed costs, or if the summers are too unpredictable to reliably make hay.

Choosing the right cutting time determines quality

Mow your grass at the vegetative stage, that is, before the grasses begin to head. In practice, this means: late April to mid-May for the first cut. The sugar content is then high enough for good fermentation, the protein content is around 18–22% in dry matter, and the fibre structure is still sufficient for the horse's digestive system. A field mowed too late has more crude fibre, less energy, and ferments less easily. Mowing height: maintain 6–8 cm to protect the sward and minimise soil contamination in the feed.

Carrying out wilting correctly: here's how

After mowing, allow the grass to wilt briefly to increase the dry matter content. This reduces the risk of butyric acid formation. Aim for a dry matter content of at least 35% before ensiling.

• Ted the grass immediately after mowing using a tedder or rake
• Allow it to wilt for 6–12 hours in dry weather above 15°C
• Turn the grass 1–2 times for an even dry matter content
• Measure the dry matter content using a microwave or field method (hand-squeeze test)
• Never wait longer than 24 hours: over-wilting increases the risk of heating after opening

Ensiling: round bales or a clamp silo?

For private horse owners, the round bale is the most practical choice. You can ensile small quantities without large machinery or storage facilities. A clamp silo becomes more worthwhile from around 50 tonnes of dry matter and requires a concrete bunker or in-ground clamp.

• Round bales: wrap with a minimum of 6 layers of stretch film, wrap within 30 minutes of baling
• Ensure a sealed film without holes — inspect every bale visually
• Do not stack bales more than 2 layers high to prevent damage
• Add a bacterial inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum) for improved fermentation
• Round bales: allow a minimum of 6 weeks to ferment before feeding

How do you recognise poor-quality silage?

Always open a bale one day before use so you can properly assess the smell. Good silage smells fresh and acidic, similar to yoghurt. Poor silage smells of butter, ammonia, or compost. Also pay attention to colour: olive green to yellow-green is normal; black or brown indicates excessively high temperature or oxygen ingress. Never feed questionable silage to horses — butyric acid bacteria can cause listeriosis. Record findings per bale in the horse profile in EquiSight, so you can track which batches were problem-free.

Storage and feeding: practical guidelines

• Store bales on a dry, level surface, preferably on pallets or gravel
• Protect bales from bird damage with nets or bird-deterrent measures
• Once opened: use up the bale within 2–3 days to prevent heating
• Give ponies and horses prone to weight gain a maximum of 2 kg dry matter of silage per day
• Weigh the feed in the beginning until you have a good eye for the correct portion
• Easily plan the feeding schedule using the calendar in EquiSight