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Want to get your business into a position where it’s better able to cope with future volatility in feed costs or milk price?

Cut to Clamp is a new initiative from Volac, which aims to raise the profile of good silage as a vital part of modern farming, showing how it can really make a difference to overall farm efficiency and profitability.

We are offering expert advice and practical tips on the 6 key stages of grass silage production; Cutting, Wilting, Harvesting, Treating, Clamping and Feeding, to help farmers understand what they can do on their farm to improve their results. Our step-by-step guide outlines good practice in silage production and includes top tips and video resources from independent silage expert – Dr. David Davies.

Making maize silage this season? We have just launched Cut to Clamp Maize, which aims to help farmers get the most from this valuable crop.

 

 

 
By making high quality silage more of the nutrient requirements of the animal will be fulfilled from silage. This will reduce the costs of milk production, reduce concentrate input and maintain a healthier rumen so reducing metabolic disease, all in all making profitable milk production far more likely.
— Dr David Davies, Independent Silage Consultant
 
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Benefits of better silage

  • One of the most cost-effective ways to feed cows

  • Reduced reliance on bought-in feed from feeding wholesome, home-produced forage

  • Improved returns from one of your farm’s main assets – your grass

  • ‘Hidden’ benefits from a more forage-based diet – e.g. improved cow fertility and cow health (e.g. less acidosis) and lower vet bills

To illustrate the value of producing more milk from silage, it has been calculated that by improving your digestibility of your silage by 3D value has the ability to save 1.5kg/concentrate per day per cow.

 
 
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Silage consultation

As part of the Cut to Clamp programme Volac are offering free on farm consultations with a silage expert.

First we will need a silage sample so that we can carry out silage analysis, we will then arrange a suitable time to visit your farm to discuss the results. Don’t worry if you don’t have any silage for analysis, we will still be happy to come and discuss your silage making process.

During the consultation, we will explore the 6 stages of silage making, and make recommendations to help improve your silage quality.

We are currently offering a FREE pair of waterproof trousers when you book a silage consultation.

Follow the Silage

Over the course of a year we’ve captured a video diary of the whole audit process on a real-life Cheshire dairy farm:

  • How a Cut to Clamp audit actually works

  • The changes recommended and implemented as a result of it

  • The benefits that are starting to be seen

This means you don’t have take our word for it that a Cut to Clamp audit can genuinely help towards making better silage.

You can see for yourself.