Biodegradable silage film recently becomes the object of some researches—the problem in agriculture and environmental conservation attack at the same time. On one side, livestock needs a food supply that can last for a long time. On another side, the wrap of the forage piles up and becomes the waste that is difficult to decompose. Some researchers think hard to find out the solution to this. To be underlined, some kind of forage is not allowed to be exposed by the air or oxygen. Therefore, the solution must be the thing that has the same coverage as the old one.
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Why is it Still Questionable?
Can biodegradable silage film replace the usual film? Before jumping to the conclusion, let us know at a glance the kinds of forage for animals. For dry hay, it can be wrapped by a net wrap or another wrap option, twine. This kind of forage doesn’t need full coverage. The humidity level of this kind of forage is really low. The dry thing can last longer, even without special preservatives.
The water elimination itself that makes the forage dry is one kind of preservation method. However, livestock needs other nutrition sources. Silage is a good choice. Silage has a wet characteristic that makes the livestock digestion system balance. Unfortunately, it needs special preservation so that the livestock could enjoy its advantage for a constant interval.
Silage contains some kinds of crops. To preserve, it uses the acidification method. After an acidification ingredient has been added, the fermentation process is started. Then the silage is ready to be pressed and wrapped.
Oxygen is not allowed to over-expose the silage. The oxidation reaction may take place and degrade the silage quality. The biodegradable silage film is worried to have a cavity that lets the oxygen come into the bale as we know that something with biodegradable material is identical with thin and flimsy characteristics.
Silage Quality
To reveal the quality of the silage after ensiled with the biodegradable silage film, comparison research should be held. This research analyzes the yeast and mold contain concerning the silage quality. In a usual film, the silage could last for about 9 to 12 months. It is proved by many experiments (with the different percentages of dry matter, wet matter, the acidification).
With the same percentage and ingredients, the silage that is wrapped with the bio-based film can last for about six months. This result is satisfying because the other products with bio-based material usually can’t last for that long.
Migration to Biodegradable Silage Film
Plastic use has been the world’s big issue in some countries that foreground husbandry as the main income, the plastic waste pile. This was not a problem in the early century. But as time goes by, the plastic waste is accumulated and mounts up. For the countries with good waste management, this is solved fast. However, for the countries with difficulty in managing waste, this obstacle threatens the environment.
Some farms are reported to solve the waste issue simply by burning them. Those farms spread around the world. It proves that some countries or areas still have problems with waste. Burning the used film is not a good solution. It causes air pollution. With the immeasurable temperature, the burnt film could release toxic residue.
Faster Decomposition
Although such a country has good waste management, it will be faster when the film is bio-based. To see the difference, we need to compare waste management to biodegradable silage film. Those two are the solution to save nature. But waste management needs action. Meanwhile, using bio-based wrapping is a passive action.
We just need to wait until it decomposes by itself. Besides, using bio-based make the recycling process is easier. The decomposition is done by the microorganisms. Then it turns into the other forms (mineral, water, etc.) with no harmful residue.
The Advantages and the Consequence of Biodegradable Silage Film Usage
With the faster decomposition, one big advantage that becomes the aim of using bio-based in the first place is achieved. That is the nature that is safe from pollution. The pollution could be in the water, the air, and simply on the land. By using bio-based, it is also saving non-renewable natural resources.
Although it has a positive effect on nature, it has the consequence. The silage could last for about 5-6 months (not 9-12 months). It means that, before the stock runs out, the farmers have to make silage again. However, that consequence even makes the farmers more diligent in checking the fodder for the livestock.
Silopak’s Silage Film
Silopak silage film has proven its quality and popularity. Since 2011, we started our journey to complete agricultural tools, especially in forage wrap film. Our silage film has been tested and results in a special number. It can preserve the silage for more than 18 months (with the ideal composition and supported by environmental factors). The best biodegradable silage film and the other kind of forage wrap are ours. Call us to have an incredibly successful journey in husbandry.