Bunker silos are widely used by farmers and ranchers to store large-capacity and cost-effective feed. The following is the definition of silo bunkers, their advantages, and tips on choosing the right product.
What is Bunker Silo?
Bunker silos, also known as drive-over silos or silage bunkers, are a type of silo commonly used in agriculture or animal husbandry as a storage area for fermenting or preserving large amounts of forage, such as grass silage, alfalfa haylage, or silage. corn.
This type of silo is usually built underground by digging a large hole lined with concrete or other strong materials on the sides. Silo bunker structures are usually very strong rectangular structures hundreds of meters long and several meters deep and have low ceiling walls.
Regarding the storage technique, the feed is then piled into the holes and packed tightly to remove as much air as possible to create a conducive anaerobic environment for fermentation.
When it is needed and will be used, stored feed can be removed from the bunker by scooping it from the top using heavy equipment such as a front-end loader.
Advantages of Using Silos Bunkers
There are several advantages to using silos for storing and preserving forage, among them.
Large Storage Power
Silos bunkers have a high-capacity forage storage, making them ideal for breeders or farmers who have large-scale farms, or who wish to prepare large quantities of feed during a lean season.
Cost-Effective
Compared to other storage systems, such as hay barn silos, silage bags, or upright silos, bunker silos are relatively inexpensive and cost-effective to construct and maintain, especially for storing large quantities of forage.
Easy Use and Maintenance
Not only easy to use, but silos bunkers also have easy access to take feed and do not require optimal maintenance as long as they are monitored regularly. This makes work more efficient.
Save Space
Because they are made underground, silos bunkers are more space efficient by utilizing limited space. This also makes the available land can be used optimally.
Minimize Waste and Decay
Forage in silos bunkers that are compacted, covered with plastic, then weighted over so that it is airtight, will help reduce the occurrence of decay and subsequently minimize the occurrence of waste.
Maintain Feed Quality
Silos bunkers are formed from a good environment that can maintain the nutritional quality of forage so that the nutritional value of livestock is fulfilled and produce healthy animals with optimal production results.
Flexible and Versatile
Bunker silos are flexible and versatile because, in addition to easy and efficient access, they can also be used to store all feed. This makes farmers have no difficulty managing feed and can optimize all available resources so that agricultural or animal husbandry activities become more productive.
Tips to Choose the Best Bunker Silos Product
Before purchasing, it is important to consider the best selection of bunker silo products to suit your specific wants and needs. Here are several things to watch out for.
Size and Capacity
Estimate how much silage you will store to determine the required silo size and bunker capacity. Make sure the estimate is accurate enough for the purchase to be of optimal use, without under or over capacity.
Material and Durability
A good bunker silos product has durable materials, is strong, does not waste management costs, is easy to maintain, and is by the environmental conditions for making silos. Therefore, it is important to choose the type of material according to the advantages and disadvantages of each, especially those that are not easily worn and have optimal protection from harmful exposure on the outside. For example, are you going to use steel, concrete, or a tough plastic-like high-density polyethylene (HDPE)?
Design
Apart from materials, make sure the silos bunker you choose is designed to be airtight. For example, equipped with a drainage feature so that water does not flood the inside, or has a seal on the side that can be closed tightly.
Ease of Installation
Apart from having a good design for forage storage, make sure the silos bunkers you choose can speed up the installation process because they are not difficult to assemble. For example, silos bunker products with modular or prefabricated designs.
Climate Trends
Pay attention to the climate in which the silos are built to choose the right type of bunker. For example, an area that receives frequent rains will require a silo that has a double covering.
Ease of Access
The selected product should have easy access to maintenance and loading and unloading. Before buying, check the suitability of silos placement on your land, such as how high and wide the silos are with the height and width at the installation site.
Research the Reputation of the Manufacturer
Make sure the selected silos bunker product comes from a reputable and trusted manufacturer. This means that manufacturers have a proven track record of high-quality products, and are proven to have good customer service while understanding consumer desires. Research the manufacturer’s reputation digitally, recommendations from people closest to you, or word of mouth, and ensure product quality through testimonials from other customers.
Support and Warranty
As well as researching the track record, also make sure that the product is certified tested, provides a comprehensive warranty, and has a good customer support system in case a problem occurs.
This is a review of the meaning of bunker silos, benefits, and tips for choosing the right product.