1	Forage Storage Options, What’s Right for You? Wisconsin Forage Council Symposium January 30, 2003
2	Considerations When Selecting Silage Storage Capital Investment Annual Cost Volume of storage needed Labor cost and availability Silo longevity
3	Considerations When Selecting Silage Storage (cont.) Herd Size Forage harvest capacity Speed of loading and unloading Compatibility with current system Flexibility for future needs
4	Considerations When Selecting Silage Storage (cont.) Spoilage and other losses Potential to purchase feed or share with a neighbor Distance from feed storage to animals Convenience Personal Preference
5	Workers Needed to Harvest Forage
6	Fatal Silage Accidents in Wisconsin 1987-1996
7	Horizontal Silo Advantages Holds large capacity Can be filled with conventional farm equipment Offers faster unloading rates Forage quality changes occur gradually if filled using the progressive wedge
8	Horizontal Silo Disadvantages Higher initial cost Requires greater care in filling and packing Will not work for smaller herds
9	Horizontal Silo Recommendations Packing is essential for good silage preservation Must be covered to avoid large storage losses Labor must be available Face removal of more than 6 in/day is recommended to avoid spoilage
10	Tower Silo Advantages Smaller exposed surface area of silage Requires less area for construction Allows greater mechanization during filling and feedout Convenient to unload in winter
11	Tower Silo Disadvantages Higher initial cost Unloads more slowly Silage moisture cannot be as high as compared to other silo types
12	Tower Silo Recommendations Face removal of more than 4 in/day is recommended to avoid spoilage Using an effective distributor can increase silo capacity by as much as 30%
13	Silo Bag Advantages Lower capital investment Flexible storage system Feed is easily inventoried Can be used for small and large herds Fewer safety and health hazards
14	Silo Bag Disadvantages Bags must be protected to prevent rips and tears Specialized equipment may be needed
15	Silo Bag Recommendations Locate on a hard all-weather surface Locate away from drainage areas and low spots For ease of feedout locate close to existing storage Face removal of more than 6 in/day is recommended to avoid spoilage
16	Silage Pile Advantages Inexpensive Good for short term storage needs
17	Silage Pile Disadvantages Large amount of exposed surface area Greatest loss of dry matter during storage More difficult to pack
18	Silage Pile Recommendations Packing is essential for good silage preservation Must be covered to avoid large storage losses Side walls should be 3 horizontal units for each vertical unit (about 18 deg)
19	Wrapped Bale Advantages Low initial investment Flexible storage system Feed can be inventoried Can be used for small herds
20	Wrapped Bale Disadvantages Damage can occur when storing and moving bales Specialized equipment may be needed
21	Economics of Your Decision Every situation is different, do your own analysis Consider looking at: Investment and Annual Costs of Forage Storages Spreadsheet. This and other documents can be found at the Team Forage Website: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.html