Possible causes

• Pick-up rate (chop length, deposited layers) and silo geometry (i.e. silo size) do not match
• Incorrect removal technique and overfilling of silage clamps: loosened, rough silage face
• Excessive rolling speed, inappropriate weight of the compaction unit
• Overfilled silo plant

Solutions

• Improve compaction: reduce the pick-up rate per unit of time if the silo surface is not yet large enough
• Avoid “ripping” harvesting techniques
• Rolling speed: max. 4 km/h
• Rolling weight = harvest rate (t/h) / 4

Possible causes

• Excessively long rolling towards the end: pumping effect (oxygen enters while preserving carbon dioxide is pushed out)
• Excessively deep layer deposited at the top: poor compaction

Solutions

• Max. 15 – 20 cm layer depth
• Maximise deep compaction during rolling: maximise tyre pressure; avoid using dual tyres
• Increase the length of stubble on the field

Possible causes

• Excessively dry substrate layer: old and dry material
• Excessively deep deposited layer
• Insufficiently processed material
• No intermediate sealing in case of delayed ensiling (especially when filling silos over several days)

Solutions

• 15 – 20 cm layer depth
• Check chop length
• Use intermediate sealing in case of delayed ensiling (also overnight)

Possible causes

• Late chopping -> field fungi
• Poor field hygiene, e.g. when cultivating maize stubble
• Excessively deep deposited layers
• Inhomogeneous silo filling; cavities or slip

Solutions

• Reduce infestation with field fungi/yeasts: harvest maize plants earlier
• Chop and incorporate maize stubble in autumn
• Max. 15–20 cm layer depth
• Fill silos evenly: avoid “cavities” resulting from unloading large forage quantities
• Prevent slip of harvesting vehicles on Silage by pulling up the compaction tractor

Possible causes

• Incorrect filling of silage clamps (sloped outside edges): poor compaction along edges
• Ingress of air or water, e.g. if no side wall or oxygen barrier is used

Solutions

• Rolling right up to the silo wall
• Use side wall and oxygen barrier