Home / Guides / Nutrition, Feeding & Water
Nutrition, Feeding & WaterFeed Storage and Spoilage Prevention
Feed you have paid for or grown is only worth something if it is still good when it reaches the cow. Storage is where much of that value is kept or lost.
Key points
- Air, water, heat and time spoil feed
- Tight packing and covers protect silage
- Keep hay dry and bulk feeds in clean, sealed storage
- Inspect weekly and keep records
- Follow safety guidance around bunkers, bins and bales
What spoils feed
Spoilage comes from air, water, heat and time. Molds, yeasts and bacteria grow where those conditions are right, using up nutrients and sometimes producing compounds that cows avoid or that harm them. Pests add to the loss by eating feed and fouling what is left.
Each type of feed has its own weak point. Silage fights air. Hay fights moisture. Commodities fight water, heat and pests. Know which one you are up against. Think about where water goes in heavy rain and snowmelt, and grade the area so it runs away from piles and bins.
Silage storage
For silage the main enemy is oxygen. Good packing squeezes air out, a tight cover keeps it out, and a clean, steady feed-out stops air from creeping deeper into the face. Packing, covering and sealing edges and seams are the jobs where careful work pays most.
At feed-out, remove feed from the face smoothly and steadily, and avoid leaving loose, broken feed behind. Cows may refuse feed that has started to heat or mold, and that feed can also affect intake of the rest of the mix. Keep a few spare cover materials and weights on hand so a tear can be repaired right away.
- Pack in thin layers and in a timely way
- Cover tightly and weight the cover
- Seal side walls and seams
- Keep the face smooth and take feed out steadily
- Remove spoiled feed and dispose of it away from animals
Hay and baled feed
Hay stays good when it goes into storage at a safe moisture and stays dry. Bales stored outside lose quality from rain and ground contact. Cover them, or set them on a well-drained base with air space around them. Hay stored too moist can heat and may carry a fire risk, so check stacks for warmth and follow extension guidance.
Label stacks with the cutting, field and date so you can match feed to the right group of cows later. Check feed that has been stored for a long time before using it in the ration, and ask your nutritionist about any that looks or smells off.
Commodities and bulk feeds
Bins, bags and sheds should be dry, tight and clean. Fix leaks, seal doors and clean out old feed before refilling, since old, caked feed holds mold and insects. Keep bags off the floor and away from walls.
Wet by-product feeds spoil quickly, especially in warm weather. Ask your nutritionist how much you can use before it goes off and plan deliveries and storage to match. Keep equipment that handles feed clean, because old feed stuck in mixers and loaders can spoil and contaminate fresh loads.
Checks and records
Make storage inspection part of the weekly routine. Look at covers, check for warm or musty spots, check bins for caking and look for signs of pests. Write down what you find and what you fixed.
Record each feed's source, date and condition, and note any change in milk, intake or herd health. If a problem appears, those records help trace it. Consider testing stored forage as your nutritionist advises so rations reflect what is actually in the pile. Plan the size of piles and bunkers to match how quickly you use the feed, since a face that is too wide for the herd's daily use will spend too long exposed to air.
Safety around stored feed
Silage and bins carry real hazards. Bunker faces can collapse, bins and silos can hold dangerous gases or engulf a person, and stacked bales can fall. Never work alone around them. Follow manufacturer guidance, OSHA rules and extension safety advice, and never enter a bin or silo without proper training and precautions.
Keep children and visitors away from storage areas and moving feed equipment.
Common mistakes
Skipping covers on a pile that will be used soon, letting the face get ragged and leaving spilled feed in place are common errors. Another is mixing old and new feed without checking condition.
Fix the weak point you see most often, and look again in a few weeks.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.