Is there dry matter loss with tower silos?
Feedout losses with tower silos can occur a few different ways. The main point is to remove at least 4 inches/day from the surface. Dry matter losses occur as soon as oxygen is reintroduced to the silage. Dry matter losses due to wind can be high if the silage is directed into a conveyor with no protective shelter or cover. Properly stored silage in tower silos, which feed into a feeding station or feed room where wind will have little effect, can have the lowest feedout losses of any structure (see Table 2). Making sure all conveyors have covers, drop pans and liners in will reduce losses. Holes in conveyor liners will allow forage to fall through, subjecting it to wind loss or being unavailable to the animal.
