UPRIGHT SILO CAPACITIES

Based on Settled Feeds (About 2 weeks after filling)

INPUT
Diameter, ft.
Height, settled ft
Dry matter %
% losses

20
60
40
10

Range
12 - 30
20 - 80
30 - 60

NOTE- Formulas are not

accurate for silo
dimensions outside
range

OUTPUT
CAPACITY (TONS)
Upright Concrete or Stave Silo
after losses
Upright Glass Lined Silo
after losses

Alfalfa
DM
as fed
163
407
147
367
178
444
160
400

Corn Silage
DM
as fed
142
356
128
320
155
388
140
349

Gr. Shelled Corn Wh. Shelled Corn

DM
as fed
DM
as fed
591
1477
479
1196
532
1329
431
1077
609
1521
493
1232
548
1369
444
1109

Gr. Ear Corn

DM
as fed
551
1377
496
1240
567
1419
511
1277

TO CALCULATE SILAGE (CONCENTRATE) IN PARTIALLY UNLOADED SILOS:

Calculate Remaining Silage in Bottom Unloading Silos Directly.
Calculate Remaining Silage in Top Unloading Silos in Three Steps:
1) Determine original amount of silage in full silo.
2) Use silage depth fed to determine amount of silage fed.
3) Difference is the amount remaining in silo.

Dairy Managememt at Virginia Tech

McGilliard, Pecsok, James
Rev. 9/24/01

Horizontal Bunker Silo Capacity

Enter numbers in input section; default numbers currently entered

INPUT
Dry Matter Percent
Percent Storage Loss
lb. DM/cu. ft. silage
Enter Silo Dimensions
average width
average height
average length
Days to feed from bunker

40
15
13

Enter as whole %
Enter as whole %
Use 12-16

45
10
150
365

Enter in feet

Optional

OUTPUT
Silo Face Area (sq. ft.)
Pound per foot of face
Inches removed per day
Capacity, tons
Before Losses
After Losses

450
9750
5.7
As Fed
1097
932

5850
Dry Matter
439
373

Dairy Management at Virginia Tech

McGilliard, Pecsok, James
Rev. 4/12/12

Ag Bag Capacity
Enter numbers in input section; default numbers currently entered

INPUT
Dry Matter Percent
Percent Storage Loss
Crop to Store
Enter Bag Dimensions
diameter
length
Density (lbs/cu ft)
[formula]
Number of bags
Number of animals to feed
As-fed lb./animal/day

35
5
corn
9
100
13.2
5.2
100
50

Enter as whole %
Enter as whole %
Choose Corn or Alfalfa
or Earlage
Enter feet (8-12)
Do not change (normally)
Optional
Optional
Optional

OUTPUT
Silo Face Area (sq. ft.)
Pound per foot of face
Inches removed per day
Days 1 bag will last
Days all bags will last

64
840
26.3
45.7
237.6

sq ft
lbs/ft
inches/day
days/bag
days total

Capacity, tons
1 Bag Before Losses
1 Bag After Losses

As Fed
120
114

Dry Matter
42
40

Based on
5.2
bags:
All Bags Before Losses (all full)
All Bags After Losses (all full)
All Bags Before Losses (part fill)
All Bags After Losses (part fill)

As Fed
720
684
624
593

Dry Matter
252
239
218
207

Based on

100
cows at
Number of Bags Needed:

50
8.0

lb/d (as-fed):
bags total

Bagger Rules of Thumb (Ag-Bag International)

As-Fed
Winter Feeding
Bag Diameter (ft)
Tons/foot
Feet/Day
Tons/Day
8
1.00
1.00
1.00
9
1.25
1.00
1.00
10
1.50
2.00
3.00
11
1.75
2.25
4.00
12
2.25
2.50
5.50

Summer Feeding
Feet/Day Tons/Day
2.00
2.00
2.25
2.75
2.50
4.00
2.75
5.00
3.00
6.50
Dairy Management at Virginia Tech
McGilliard, James, Mowrey
Rev. 5/24/02

Silo Annual Costs

INTEREST %: 7.50

Concrete
Upright

Horizontal
Price ($)
Years Life
Salvage 0,1,2X
Repair %
Tax/Ins %
DM Capacity (T/fill or bag)
DM Loss (%)
Percent DM (%)
Fills/Yr or Bags/Yr
Unloader ($)
Years Life
Salvage 0,1,2 (x decline)
Repair %
Tax/Ins %
Price of 1 Bag ($)
Number of Bags
Other Initial Costs
Years Life (for Other Costs)
Salvage Silo
AV Price
AV Salvage
AV Repairs
AV Tax/Ins

AV Silo
Salvage Unloader
AV Price
AV Salvage
AV Repairs
AV Tax/Ins

AV Unloader
AV Bags
AV Other Costs

AV Total
Recovered Tons DM
Recovered T As-Fed
$ per Ton DM
$ /Ton As-Fed

Sealed
Upright

28,000
30,000
20
18
0
1
2
2
1.5
1.5
330
300
15
10
30
40
1
1
5,000
5,000
10
7
0
2
5
5
1.5
1.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
DO NOT ENTER BELOW
0
10,723
2,747
3,091
0
-301
560
600
420
450

Multiple
Fill

Bagger

90,000
15
0
3
1.5
460
5
35
1
23,000
8
2
5
1.5
0
0
0
0

90,000
15
0
3
1.5
460
5
35
1.3
23,000
8
2
5
1.5
0
0
0
0

75,000
10
2
3
1.5
226
5
40
6
5,000
7
0
5
1.5
550
6
0
10

0
10,196
0
2,700
1,350

0
10,196
0
2,700
1,350

8,053
10,926
-1,173
2,250
1,125

3,727
0
728
0
250
75

3,840
474
944
-54
250
75

14,246
2,303
3,927
-220
1,150
345

14,246
2,303
3,927
-220
1,150
345

13,128
0
944
0
250
75

1,053

1,215

5,201

5,201

1,269

3,300

4,780
281
935
17.04
5.11

5,055
270
675
18.72
7.49

19,447
437
1249
44.50
15.58

19,447
568
1623
34.23
11.98

17,697
1288
3221
13.74
5.50

Dairy Management at Virginia Tech

Dr. M.L. McGilliard
Rev. 9/15/99

formulas

Formulas For Upright Silo Capacity Calculation

ALFALFA HAYLAGE
6.095703 112.1802
18.28711 35.98085 162.9771
CORN SILAGE
6.095703 112.1802
18.28711 35.98085 162.9771
GROUND SHELLED CORN
6.095703 122.4479
18.28711 414.6268 590.7821
WHOLE SHELLED CORN
6.095703 122.4479
18.28711 414.6268 590.7821
GROUND EAR CORN
6.095703 122.4479
18.28711 368.5571 540.1055

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