Requirements differ widely around the world.
Overview.
The requirements for silage chop length and processing differ widely depending on the individual farm and usage. The spectrum extends from extremely short chop lengths of between 3.5 and 12 mm all the way up to SHREDLAGE® with chop lengths greater than 25 mm. Broadly speaking, it is currently possible to identify three requirement groups.
Requirement group 1: Short-chopped silage.
Chop lengths of 3.5 to 12 mm fall into the short-chopped silage group. Short chopping is used both for silage destined for biogas facilities as well as for feed for dairy and beef cattle. The requirement here is for homogenous, short and extremely fine plant material. A very high standard of kernel splitting is also called for. This silage, which has low physical effectiveness, is used above all in the biogas sector. If it is used as cattle feed, it must be complemented with sufficient quantities of alternative fibre material.
Requirement group 2: Long-chopped silage.
"Classic" long-chopped silage covers the chop length range from 12 to 22 mm and has been established in many countries for years. In addition to the splitting of the kernels, the need here is for improved physical effectiveness; however, the different feed components are not shredded as intensively as they are in the SHREDLAGE® process. Nevertheless, long-chopped silage also has a greater physical effect which promotes rumination; only the reduced packing density of the silage pile proved to be a shortcoming in the past .
Requirement group 3: SHREDLAGE®.
SHREDLAGE® is a relatively recent feed conditioning process from North America which calls for extremely long chop lengths of up to 30 mm. Thanks to the very high degree of kernel splitting, which can attain the intensity of a powerful grinding effect, the proportion of starch – a source of energy – available in the rumen is increased. Furthermore, the plant stalks undergo highly intensive longitudinal processing, the aim being to produce silage with significantly greater physical effectiveness and thereby to improve rumination.
