Silo protection and coverage

Silage is stored in a silo for animal feeding or as performance material for biogas plants. The stored harvest undergoes a fermentation process under an airtight seal, which makes it more durable, nutrient-rich and efficient. In a silo, a large amount of silage can be stored cost-effectively and safely over a long period of time. For the fermentation process and storage, it is important that the harvest has been carefully covered.

The harvest must be covered, as it undergoes a fermentation process (ensiling) due to oxygen exclusion. The harvest is preserved by converting the plant sugar to preservative lactic acids. The less oxygen is trapped between the films and the silage, the faster the pH value of the silage is lowered, which ensures high-quality feed preservation. If the oxygen content is too high, mould and incorrect fermentation can occur, which is why a carefully done cover with high-quality silage films is essential.

A distinction is made between two types of silos: bunker silos and pile silos.

Bunker silos:
Driving silos have a paved surface (usually a concrete slab) and are bordered by solid concrete walls. This allows large quantities of harvested material to be compacted and stored better.

Pile silos:
Pile silos are less used today. In most cases, this is only an "emergency solution" if, for example, the quantity of crop exceeds the capacity of a bunker silo. Here, as with bunker silos, legal regulations must be met. For example, it is prohibited that the fermentation acids reach the soil.

The following products are needed to cover a silo perfectly:

• Side-wall film
• Underlayer film
• Silo film
• Silo protection cover
• Silo bags

Helpful supplies: Zill side-wall-clamps, quick'n fix silo bag attachment

Everything for the professional silo coverage can be found at Zill. Farmers worldwide entrust their valuable silage to Zill’s high-quality silo protection products.

To cover a silo correctly, several steps must be noted.

Step 1: First, cover the walls with side wall film. Our silo side wall clamps can help you here.

Step 2: Lay the underlayer film as the first layer over the silage, then fold the side wall film from the outside over the underlay or suction film.

Step 3: Now cover the silo with the silo film.

Step 4: In order to protect the silage film from damage, a silage protection grid should absolutely be placed on top.

Step 5: Now weigh down the silo protection grid with silo bags and place them in lines across the silo.

For bulk silos and bunker silos with a steep pile, the silo bags can be afixed with the quick'n fix silo bag fastening system.

When covering a silo, all steps of the silo covering should be carried out carefully. The fermentation conditions are best if you cover the silo as quickly as possible after filling it. It is particularly helpful if you fold the side wall film over the underlay film and then cover it with the silo film. That prevents rainwater from entering the silage.

Covering a silo can take several hours, depending on its size, as there are many steps to consider. It should be covered quickly after filling it and if it is possible even on the same day, which is why most farmers organize plenty of helpers for that day. The Zill „powerfol® DOUBLE BARRIER 2in1“  silo film makes the work easier an faster due to an excellent regenerate-free underlay film and silo film packed on one roll, thus two steps can be completed in one.

The larger the silo, the heavier, longer and bulkier the film rolls and protection grids become, which could lead to problems, especially in windy conditions. Therefore, it is of course more comfortable to always cover the silo on a windless day.

It should not rain on the day the silo is covered as well, that the silage keeps dry and is prevented from molding.

With the Zill Passion silage film “powerfol® DOUBLE BARRIER 2in1" you can complete two work steps at the same time and therefore save a lot of time. On one roll, an outstanding silo film and underlay film are rolled up together, which allows both films to be laid on the silage at the same time.

Silo protection is used in agriculture, on professional and modern silos.
Silo protection includes protective varnish, side wall film, underlay film, silo film, silo protection covers and silo bags. When applied correctly, they protect and enhance the valuable harvest.

A good silo protection on bunker and pile silos guarantees a high yield. There are many steps to consider when covering, to achieve a maximum silage result.

Under the airtight films, the plant sugar of the harvest can ferment to lactic acid, which preserves the feed, and enriches it with nutrients. This process is called ensiling. This is also an important process for biogas plants, because the energy value of the biomass increases through ensiling.

The films additionally protect against external and environmental influences, such as sunlight, wind, rainfall and animals. To ensure that the films are not damaged during ensiling and that the silage remains unaffected, it is advisable to cover them with a protective grid. It prevents more severe damage factors such as hail, pecking birds and clawing critters.

Weighing down the covers with tires should no longer be applied. Silo bags offer much more advantages for a safer weighting down of the covers. They are easy to handle and can be used for many years. Their narrow shape and smaller size make them easier to store. Through silo bags, rainwater can easily drain off, which prevents the water from collecting in puddles.

For additional protection of the silage and the silo walls, all walls and the floor should be painted with silo varnish approximately every 2 years.

Everything about silo protection and the individual products can be found on our website. You will not only find the best products here, but also detailed explanations of their respective application.