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Improving Feed Storage: A Smart Way to Reduce Waste and Boost Efficiency

Improving Feed Storage: A Smart Way to Reduce Waste and Boost Efficiency

The EU dairy industry is the largest in the world, with around 20 million dairy cows producing high-quality milk every day. A key part of running a successful dairy farm is making sure that feed is stored efficiently to reduce waste, save money, and support sustainable farming.

A group of cows standing in a sunlit field, close to the camera, with a bright blue sky in the background. The sunlight highlights their features and casts soft shadows on the grass. — There is about 1.6 million dairy cattle in the Netherlands.

Why Feed Storage Matters

Studies show that poor silage storage can lead to 15% feed loss, while improved storage solutions like baled silage, can reduce losses to 5% or less. This doesn’t just mean wasted feed—it also means higher costs and unnecessary emissions.

For example, in the Dutch dairy industry, which has around 1.6 million dairy cows, improving feed storage could reduce emissions by 300,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalents per year. Now, if these improvements were made across all 20 million dairy cows in the EU, we could potentially cut 3.7 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually—all while making better use of the feed we already have.

A close-up of a heavy-duty loader scooping up fresh silage in a bunker silo, with finely chopped forage spilling over the edges.

A close-up view of a bunker silo with tightly packed silage stacked in layers, showing the compacted forage used for livestock feed. — There are over 400.000 dairy farms in Europe. The most common way to store feed for the bigger farms is by using a bunker silo.

What Affects Feed Storage Efficiency?

1. Grazing vs. Stored Feed

In some countries, like Ireland, cows graze most of the year, meaning less reliance on stored silage.
In other regions, like Denmark, cows are mainly fed stored feed, making efficient storage even more important.

2. Different Storage Methods

Many farmers rely on silos, even though research suggests that high-density round bales do a better job at preventing spoilage.
In warmer climates, spoilage risks are higher, making proper storage even more critical.

3. The Potential Beyond Dairy

It’s not just dairy cows that rely on stored forage—beef cattle, sheep, and goats also consume large amounts of silage.
If better storage methods were used across all 120 million livestock animals in the EU, the impact would be even greater.

A Practical Solution: Baling!

A stack of round bales wrapped in white plastic. — Round bales compacts the forage removing oxygen, allowing the nutrients to stay intact during prolonged storage.

A Dens-X compactor and a tractor, with green grass and pink skies and heavy clouds. — A high-capacity, high-efficiency compactor for the big baling jobs!

By improving feed storage, farmers can reduce waste, cut costs, and ensure high-quality feed for their animals. Orkel compactors provide a reliable and efficient way to bale different types of forage, including chopped grass, maize, alfalfa, and beet pulp.

Are you curious about baling?

Let’s talk! Our team is ready to discuss how baling can be implemented into your operation. Contact us through the form below!