Improvement of silage-making using roll baler system

Roll baler was introduced for research on labour-saving harvesting and storage. To improve the use of the roll baler for harvesting, evaluation of suitable grass species and improvement of silage quality by the addition of molasses were investigated. Also, enlargement of the roll baler harvesting area and decrease of working hours in this area were analyzed. Bahiagrass showed the same high DM digestibility as the first cutting of Italian ryegrass. The addition of molasses enhanced the fermentation of roll-baled silage with 56% moisture. By the introduction of the roll baler, the number of bales of Italian rye-grass increased by 130%, the harvesting area doubled and total dry matter yield increased by 155% in 3 years in this area, mainly due the decrease by 1/5 of working hours compared with conventional harvesting method