Silage Protection Grid?! How to properly protect your silage in 2026!
Protecting your silage properly?
Proper silage protection is half the battle when it comes to good-quality silage – this is something most farmers are already aware of. However, due to extreme weather conditions, rising feed costs, and strict quality requirements, tires and a simple silage protection grid are no longer enough. The right protection against pests, oxygen, and weather influences makes the difference between high-quality forage and unnecessary losses. Which methods and materials will help you optimally protect your silo in 2026, you will learn in this article.
Is a silage protection grid still sufficient?
Most farmers now rely on silage protection grids, and this is an important step in the right direction. Their purpose is to reliably protect the film from mechanical damage caused by claws or pecking birds.
In recent years, we have increasingly seen silages where mold and sometimes even water ingress became visible, even though the film itself appeared to be intact. Closer inspections using a light table (illuminating the film from below) have shown that despite a silage protection grid, even the smallest holes in the film can be found (see photo).
Even with the best barrier film, the rule remains: even small holes in the film are enough to compromise silage quality. Oxygen enters the silo, reheating begins, and valuable nutrients are lost. Even the best silage additive is powerless against this. To prevent this, you should not rely solely on silage protection grids, but combine them with an additional layer.
The OXY Protect fleece from jbs, with its 300 g/m², is so thick that bird claws cannot even reach the film underneath. It provides an additional protective barrier and minimizes the risk of damage caused by wildlife or weather conditions. Anyone who wants to ensure that the film remains intact and the feed is optimally protected should rely on the combination of silage protection grid and fleece.
Tires on silage
Even in 2025, many still use old tires to weigh down their silage film and silage cover – which is understandable. Tires are already available in large quantities and seem like a cost-effective solution for sealing silage.
Why are tires problematic?
- Rigid tires do not adapt to the curved silage surface – oxygen can easily enter
- They are often contaminated with wire residues, which can damage the film and end up in the silage and thus in the cow
- Standing water inside tires attracts mosquitoes and pests and also creates dirt when uncovering the silo
Why are silage bags much better?
- They can be placed to form a true barrier, preventing air from entering underneath the film and reducing mold losses
- Clean handling with silage bags is much easier and more effective, not only when covering but also when opening
- They are durable and save you from dirt, pests, and wire residues
Oxygen barriers
If you now use fleece and silage bags in combination with the protec barrier hose or the protec Safeline, and place cross barriers made of silage bags every 5–10 meters, you create the perfect conditions to keep oxygen away from your silage even after opening – resulting in top-quality forage for a profitable herd.
Conclusion
Silage protection today is far more than just silage protection grids and old tires. If the silage is not properly protected, even the best silage film and the best silage additives will only achieve limited results. If you pay attention to the following points, you create ideal conditions for high-quality silage:
- Use silage bags instead of tires
- Keep your silo surface clean at all times
- Add protective fleece over the silage film for extra safety
- Create cross barriers every 5–10 meters to block oxygen
Proper protection is important – but what lies beneath is just as crucial. Click here now and sign up for our jbs harvest package, and we will put together a perfect set of all essential products for top-quality silage.
