Topfodder^TM silage - PROfarm course

$480 GST-free.
Includes highly acclaimed Successful Silage manual.

This course is registered under the Commonwealth Government's FarmReady program. Eligible primary producers can be reimbursed for the cost of this course. See the FarmReady website for more details.

• Improve the quality of silage
• Evaluate the role of silage and hay when developing drought, flood, sustainable grazing and weed management plans 
• Reduce losses and wastage (during harvest, storage and feed-out)
• Develop a better understanding of fodder conservation costs
• Make silage production more profitable

• Compare the advantages of silage versus hay
• Understand the fermentation process
• Identify where losses occur and minimise them
• Recognise how silage quality affects animal production
• Interpret a feed quality analysis report
• Recognise silage as a management tool
• Understand the impact of growth stage on quality and quantity of silage
• Assess wilting level and dry matter content
• Understand how additives work and when to use them
• Develop strategies for dealing with adverse weather conditions
• Compare storage and feeding methods
• Identify the costs of fodder conservation
• Calculate fodder requirements during drought 
• Develop a contractor agreement

• Introduction
• Using silage in the farming system
• Principles and science of silage making
• Understanding feed quality  

Day 2

• Crop/pasture selection for silage
• Mowing, wilting and harvesting
• Storage of silage
• Use of additives and inoculants

Day 3

• Feeding silage
• Effect of chop length on storing and feeding
• Economics of silage
• Working with contractors

• TopFodder Successful Silage technical reference manual. The 420 page hardcover book contains many diagrams, pictures and tables.
• Successful Silage workbook.
• TopFodder Successful Silage DVD.

This course is mainly delivered indoors, but includes farm visits and demonstrations.

This short course was developed jointly by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Dairy Australia.