{"id":454,"date":"2026-05-22T05:47:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T05:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/?p=454"},"modified":"2026-05-22T05:47:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T05:47:45","slug":"how-to-reduce-dry-matter-loss-when-making-silage-bales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/application\/how-to-reduce-dry-matter-loss-when-making-silage-bales\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reduce Dry Matter Loss When Making Silage Bales"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Knowledge Base \u00b7 Feed Efficiency<\/div>\n

Dry matter loss is the silent cost of silage production. Every percentage point lost is feed that never reaches the animal. This guide covers the seven stages where losses occur and the practical measures that minimise each one.<\/p>\n

New South Wales, Australia\u00b7EverPower Baling Machinery Australia Pty Ltd\u00b7+61 2 9708 3322<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Well-managed bale silage systems achieve total dry matter losses of 5 to 8 percent<\/strong> from standing crop to fed bale. Poorly managed systems lose 15 to 30 percent \u2014 the equivalent of discarding one bale in every four to six produced. The difference is not luck or climate; it is the cumulative effect of decisions made at each stage of the process.<\/p>\n

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Where Dry Matter Is Lost: The Seven Stages<\/div>\n
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1. Field respiration<\/div>\n
2\u20135% \u00b7 During wilting<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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2. Leaf shatter<\/div>\n
1\u20135% \u00b7 Raking & tedding<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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3. Rain damage<\/div>\n
0\u201310% \u00b7 Weather events<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4. Baling losses<\/div>\n
1\u20133% \u00b7 Pickup spillage<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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5. Aerobic exposure<\/div>\n
1\u20135% \u00b7 Pre-wrap delay<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6. Fermentation<\/div>\n
2\u20134% \u00b7 Unavoidable<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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7. Storage spoilage<\/div>\n
1\u201310% \u00b7 Film damage, oxygen<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Best practice total: 5\u20138% \u00a0|\u00a0 Poor practice total: 15\u201330%<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stage 1: Minimise Field Respiration During Wilting<\/h2>\n

From the moment the crop is mown, the living plant cells continue to respire, consuming stored sugars and releasing carbon dioxide. This respiration continues until the moisture drops below approximately 40 percent or until anaerobic conditions are established inside the wrapped bale. Every hour in the paddock costs dry matter. The strategy is to reach the target moisture (45 to 65 percent) as quickly as possible. Use a mower-conditioner to crack stems and accelerate drying. Ted the swath within 2 to 4 hours of mowing if conditions allow. Monitor weather forecasts to avoid mowing before rain. In ideal conditions (warm, dry, moderate wind), wilting to target moisture takes 12 to 24 hours. In cool or humid conditions, it can take 36 to 48 hours. The longer the wilt, the more dry matter is consumed by respiration \u2014 typically 2 to 3 percent per day of field exposure.<\/p>\n

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Stage 2: Reduce Leaf Shatter During Mechanical Handling<\/h2>\n

Leaf tissue is the most nutritious part of the forage plant and also the most fragile once partially dried. Over-tedding, aggressive raking, or operating mechanical equipment at excessive speed shatters dried leaves and leaves them on the paddock floor where they cannot be collected by the baler pickup. Leaf shatter losses of 3 to 5 percent are common with lucerne (alfalfa) and other legumes that have fragile dried leaves. The mitigation strategy is to ted only when necessary, reduce tedder and rake ground speed, and time raking for early morning when residual dew softens the leaves slightly and reduces brittleness. For grasses with more robust leaf structure, leaf shatter is less severe but still measurable at 1 to 2 percent.<\/p>\n

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Stage 3: Avoid Rain Damage to Wilting Forage<\/h2>\n

Rain on wilting forage is one of the most damaging events in the silage production chain. Rainfall washes water-soluble sugars from the plant surface, reducing the substrate available for lactic acid fermentation. It re-wets the crop, extending the wilting period and increasing total respiration losses. It also leaches minerals and vitamins, reducing the nutritional value of the finished silage. A single 10mm rain event on a partially wilted swath can increase total dry matter loss by 5 to 10 percent and significantly reduce silage fermentation quality. The only reliable mitigation is to monitor weather forecasts before mowing and plan the mowing-to-baling sequence within a confirmed dry weather window.<\/p>\n

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Stage 4: Optimise Baler Pickup Efficiency<\/h2>\n

Material that the baler pickup fails to collect from the windrow is permanently lost. Pickup losses of 1 to 3 percent are typical and are caused by pickup tines set too high (skimming over the windrow), broken or missing tines creating gaps in the pickup path, and excessive forward speed that causes material to spill outside the pickup width. The round baler<\/strong> pickup should be set so the tine tips operate 25 to 40mm above ground level on flat terrain. All tines should be present and undamaged. Forward speed should match the windrow density \u2014 heavier windrows require slower forward speed to allow the pickup to process the volume without spillage.<\/p>\n

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Stage 5: Eliminate the Pre-Wrap Aerobic Window<\/h2>\n

The period between bale ejection and film application is pure aerobic loss. Aerobic organisms inside the unwrapped bale consume sugars, generate heat, and decompose plant proteins. Losses of 1 to 2 percent per hour of aerobic exposure are typical in warm conditions. The target is to wrap every bale within 2 hours of ejection. A combined baler wrapper<\/strong> wraps within seconds, reducing this loss stage to near zero. If using a separate wrapper, coordinate the baling and wrapping operations so the wrapper follows the baler in the same paddock rather than returning to wrap after the entire paddock is baled. Never leave bales unwrapped overnight \u2014 the cumulative aerobic loss from a 12-hour overnight exposure can exceed 5 percent of the bale\u2019s dry matter.<\/p>\n

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Stage 6: Accept Fermentation Losses; Optimise Fermentation Quality<\/h2>\n

Fermentation losses of 2 to 4 percent are inherent to the silage process and cannot be eliminated \u2014 the conversion of sugars to lactic acid produces carbon dioxide and water as byproducts, which represent dry matter that exits the bale. However, fermentation losses can be minimised by ensuring the fermentation is dominated by efficient lactic acid bacteria rather than inefficient heterofermentative organisms. The two levers are: baling at the correct moisture (45 to 65 percent provides the water activity that favours lactic acid bacteria) and using a silage inoculant when the crop\u2019s natural lactic acid bacteria population is uncertain (legumes, mixed-species swards, late-season cuts with lower microbial populations)<\/p>\n

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Stage 7: Protect Film Integrity During Storage<\/h2>\n

Storage spoilage losses are entirely preventable. Every hole in the film allows oxygen in, activating aerobic spoilage that consumes dry matter. The measures are straightforward: store on a flat, drained surface free of stubble and sharp objects; use bale grabs rather than spikes during handling; apply bird deterrence (netting, visual deterrents, or proximity alarms) at sites with known bird pressure; inspect monthly and repair any punctures immediately with silage-grade tape. For bales in long-term storage, 6 to 8 film layers provide additional insurance against gradual UV degradation of the outer film layers.<\/p>\n

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Recommended Product: EverPower 9YG-2.24 Round Baler S9000 Beyond<\/h2>\n

Minimising dry matter loss starts with producing the densest, most uniform bale possible. The EverPower 9YG-2.24 Round Baler S9000 Beyond<\/strong> is the flagship variable chamber model in the range, producing bales up to 1.8m diameter with progressive belt compression that eliminates the soft-core problem responsible for internal spoilage. The high-capacity pickup minimises field spillage, and the rapid bale cycle keeps the operation moving to reduce total paddock exposure time.<\/p>\n

\"EverPower<\/p>\n
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Featured Equipment<\/div>\n
EverPower 9YG-2.24 Round Baler S9000 Beyond<\/div>\n

Flagship variable chamber round baler with progressive belt compression, high-capacity pickup, and rapid bale cycle. Produces dense, uniform bales up to 1.8m for minimum dry matter loss across all crop types and moisture conditions.<\/p>\n

View Full Specifications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Related reading:<\/strong> See practical strategies for handling high-moisture silage crops: How to Handle High-Moisture Silage Crops Without Compromising Bale Quality<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Discuss Dry Matter Loss Reduction for Your Operation \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n
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\ud83d\udcde Talk to the Team<\/div>\n
\n
Company:<\/strong>
\nEverPower Baling Machinery Australia Pty Ltd<\/div>\n
Address:<\/strong>
\n27 Harley Crescent, Condell Park NSW 2200<\/div>\n
Phone:<\/strong>
\n+61 2 9708 3322<\/a><\/div>\n
Email:<\/strong>
\nsales@silage-baler.com<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\n1. What is a realistic total dry matter loss target?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Well-managed bale silage operations in southeastern Australia consistently achieve total dry matter losses of 5 to 8 percent from standing crop to opened bale. This includes unavoidable fermentation losses of 2 to 4 percent. Operations with combined baler-wrappers, rapid wilting, and good storage management approach the lower end of this range.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n2. Does bale density affect dry matter loss?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Yes. Higher bale density means less trapped air inside the bale, which reduces the aerobic phase after wrapping and lowers both fermentation losses and internal spoilage risk. Dense bales also ferment more consistently, producing higher lactic acid concentrations and more stable pH. Increasing bale density through correct chamber pressure and belt maintenance is one of the most effective dry matter loss reduction measures available.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n3. How much does dry matter loss cost per bale?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
A 1.2m round bale at silage moisture contains approximately 250 to 350 kg of dry matter. At a feed replacement value of AUD 300 to 400 per tonne of dry matter, each percentage point of dry matter loss costs approximately AUD 0.75 to 1.40 per bale. Over a 500-bale production run, reducing total losses from 15 percent to 8 percent saves AUD 2,600 to 4,900 in feed value \u2014 more than the cost of operational improvements needed to achieve the reduction.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n4. Does inoculant reduce dry matter loss?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Homofermentative inoculants promote efficient lactic acid production, which reduces fermentation losses by 1 to 2 percentage points compared to natural fermentation. The effect is most pronounced in crops with lower natural sugar content or lower natural bacterial populations. For high-sugar grasses in warm conditions, the improvement may be marginal; for legumes and late-season cuts, the improvement is typically measurable and cost-effective.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n5. Is pit silage or bale silage better for dry matter retention?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Well-managed bale silage and well-managed pit silage achieve similar total dry matter losses (5 to 10 percent). However, bale silage has an advantage in that each bale is an individually sealed unit \u2014 opening one bale does not expose the rest of the stored feed to oxygen, as happens when a pit face is opened. For farms that feed bales individually over an extended period, bale silage typically delivers lower total feeding-phase losses than pit silage.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n

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EverPower Baling Machinery Australia Pty Ltd<\/strong>
\n27 Harley Crescent, Condell Park NSW 2200 \u00a0|\u00a0 +61 2 9708 3322<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 sales@silage-baler.com<\/a>
\nAbout Us<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 Contact Us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Knowledge Base \u00b7 Feed Efficiency Dry matter loss is the silent cost of silage production. Every percentage point lost is feed that never reaches the animal. This guide covers the seven stages where losses occur and the practical measures that minimise each one. New South Wales, Australia\u00b7EverPower Baling Machinery Australia Pty Ltd\u00b7+61 2 9708 […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-knowledge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=454"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":461,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions\/461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/ky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}