Products And Specifications

Maximizing ruminant livestock production depends on producing and storing superior silage. It is widely acknowledged that the best long-term silage storage choice for expanded dairy farms is bunker silos, maintained with reinforced coverage to help prevent aerobic contamination.

Sometimes large bunker silos are left unsealed since covering them is cumbersome, labor intensive and deemed unworthy of the time and effort required. But left unprotected, dry matter (DM) losses in the top one to three feet can exceed 60% to 70%. This is particularly disconcerting considering that 15% to 25% of the silage most often lies within the top three feet. Depending on silo size, losses often exceed $10,000.

Currently, the most common sealing method is to cover the ensiled forage with a polyethylene sheet (6 mil), weighted down with discarded tires. But not all tires are created equal. Holding down silage covers to eliminate the infiltration of air is best achieved with truck-tire sidewalls as they provide greater safety, reduce the size of the face and reduce both packing and covering labor.

There are choices when it comes to silage bunker covers. A continuous layer of bias ply truck-tire sidewalls works particularly well for holding down plastic tarps. Tire Sidewall Depot’s signature 100% nylon, bias ply truck-tire sidewalls and aircraft tire rings are environmentally friendly, cost effective, durable and cleaner alternatives to heavy, burdensome whole tires often used for this purpose. Completely metal-free, these sidewalls do not cut plastic or hands; they are stackable and don’t hold water. Given that shielding silage from exposure to air and moisture greatly protects, enhances and preserves its nutritional value, using larger bias truck-tire sidewalls to weigh down tarps just makes sense.

While bias ply truck-tire sidewalls may cost slightly more than radial truck-tire sidewalls, it’s generally a non-issue since they can significantly increase profits simply by being more effective.

They also protect the environment and farmers by eliminating exposure to such breeders of disease as rusting metal (prevalent with the use of radial sidewalls) and stagnant water (which can accumulate when working with whole tires), thereby protecting immeasurably against vermin, pathogens and insects such as West Nile-carrying mosquitoes.

What’s more, their enlarged size provides maximum coverage, with the weight equivalent to whole tires. Consequently, farmers and ranchers work more efficiently, safely and hygienically while benefiting from a reduced risk of contaminating their silage and potentially harming their stock.

While there is little, if any, dispute that bias ply truck-tire sidewalls are superior to radials when used as silage bunker covers, it is a bit of a double-edged sword. Greater efficiency, safety, environmental friendliness and reduced labor come at a price: greater demand. And greater demand often means shorter supply. The best way to avoid disappointment is to keep a keen eye on your inventory and reserve product well in advance of your needs.

Danny Nadler, president and CEO of Tire Sidewall Depot, has been successfully serving the agricultural industry since 1995 by filling the need for safer, more efficient bunker silo coverage. With several strategically located facilities across North America, Tire Sidewall Depot delivers across the nation, assuring exceptionally competent, friendly and reliable service.