Silo Protection: Film, Grille and Bags for an Airtight Clamp

Silo Protection: Seal It Tight, Weight It Down Properly

The quality of your silage is not decided at the chopper alone, it is decided at the surface. Wherever air gets in, yeasts and moulds go to work and the top few centimetres turn into waste. A tight cover is therefore not a side issue. You need three things that work together: a tight silage film, a protection grille against mechanical damage, and enough weight to hold the film down everywhere.

Film and grille

With the film it is thickness and oxygen permeability that count. Our silage sheets are 80 micron and come in 35 and 50 metre lengths, so you can cover the clamp in one piece and end up with as few seams as possible. Pick the length that matches your clamp and you avoid an overlap in the middle altogether. On top of that belongs a protection grille of 220 to 240 grams per square metre. It catches hail, birds' beaks and cats' claws and stops a single hole from making the whole cover worthless. The grille does not replace the film, it protects it.

Weighting it down without damaging the film

When it comes to weighting, many farms make the same mistake and only load the edges. What really matters is the whole surface, above all at the face and along the shoulders. Gravel bags are better suited to this than tyres, because they follow the contour and leave no puddles for mosquitoes to breed in. They come in 100 and 120 centimetre lengths, with or without a handle, and with a handle they are far quicker to shift when you open the face.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the film enough on its own without a grille?
In the short term yes, long term no. Even small holes from birds or hail let air in and spoil the top layer.

Gravel bags or tyres?
Bags lie closer to the surface, spread the weight more evenly and collect no water. Tyres are cheaper, but they are heavier to handle.

How long does a silage film last?
Stored properly and used with a grille it usually survives several seasons. Drying it after use and keeping it in the shade extends its life noticeably.