Nutrient Losses in Relation to Film Colour and Number of Layers

Per Lingvall
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Kungsängen Research Centre, SE – 753 23 Uppsala. Email: Per.Lingvall@huv.slu.se

The research compared black and white Triowrap 25 μ m film made with DOWLEX 2045S PE™ Resins, 70% prestretched, 750 mm wide and 50% overlap; without and with 4-layer Kofasil Ultra per ton forage.

The data below shows nutrient losses (water soluble carbohydrates) kg per ton silage DM


Experiment 1 Experiment 2
460g Dm per kg FW 610g DM per kg FW
Control +Kofasil Control +Kofasil
Black x 6 layers 90 65
White x 4 layers 63 38
White x 6 layers 58 41 39 21
White x 8 layers 38 23
Least Significant Differences
(p<0.05)
5.2 3.5

The results of the research showed that:

  • White film increased the silage value by 9 Euro per ton DM, equivalent to 3 Euro per bale, in comparison with black film.
  • Six layers of white film, compared with four, increased the silage value by 7 Euro per ton DM, equivalent to 2.3 Euro per bale.
  • Six layers of white film gave satisfactory gas tightness but eight layers would be an economic investment in difficult conditions — 5% higher losses in nutrient value with six layers corresponds to 2.3 Euro per bale.

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