When properly used, covers can help preserve the nutritional content of silage by creating an anaerobic environment that limits spoilage and nutrient degradation. The primary factors influencing the nutritional value of silage are the crop quality at the time of ensiling and the fermentation process. Silage covers primarily serve to protect the silage from oxygen exposure, moisture infiltration, and weather damage.
Maintaining this stable and protected environment, allows silage covers to help retain the nutrients present in the silage, ensuring that the feed retains its nutritional value over time. Proper harvesting, ensiling, and handling practices are also crucial for maximizing the nutritional quality of silage, with silage covers playing a supportive role.
