A variety of silage cover styles can be used, depending on the overall production goals. The most widely used are bunker silos, which are large, open-top structures which permit easy and efficient filling and packing. These silos use traditional plastic silage covers which are weighed down with tires, sandbags, or other weights to eliminate air in the pile.
Some newer techniques use silage bags, which are loaded, tightly compacted, and sealed. Bagged silage requires specialized equipment, but offers advantages in repositioning the product and the ability to easily adjust to changing availability. Silage bales are large round bales wrapped tightly in multiple layers of plastic. They're particularly convenient for transport, and permit feeding out in limited amounts that doesn't expose the remaining silage to air.
