Cattle Feeding and Silage Storage in Germany
German cattle farms run on grass silage, maize silage and bought protein such as rapeseed meal, spread across several cuts and clamps. Knowing what is left in each clamp and what each group eats every day keeps rations right all year. HerdMobile calculates daily rations, tracks feed stocks and keeps herd and farm finance records offline on your Android phone.
Compiled from open-access scientific sources.
Reference values and basis
| Parameter and basis | Value |
|---|---|
| Grass silage / Grassilage | kg silage, as fed |
| Maize silage / Maissilage | kg silage, as fed |
| Rapeseed meal / Rapsschrot | kg purchased meal, as received |
How do you manage multiple silage cuts and clamps?
Treat each grass cut and maize harvest as its own clamp or bay, using the names you already use in the yard. First-cut and third-cut grass silage differ in dry matter and protein, so lumping them together hides what you are really feeding. Record the fresh kilograms (as fed) taken from each clamp for each cattle group; silage weight includes water, while your lab analysis is on a dry matter basis. If you measure by the loader bucket, weigh one full bucket first so your daily figures stay accurate. Once a week, check what was fed out, what moved between bays and how much silage is left. HerdMobile tracks your stock and warns you before a clamp runs low, so you know when to open the next cut.
How should you track bought-in feed and ration costs?
Log every delivery of rapeseed meal, minerals or bought-in forage with the product name, kilograms received, delivery date and price. If you book feed ahead, add it to stock only once it arrives in the yard. Keep loads from different suppliers separate rather than lumping invoices together, because quality and price change from load to load. Keep home-grown silage apart from bought feed so your spending matches your stock. Comparing feed bills with daily use shows whether higher consumption comes from more cattle in a group or from waste at the feed barrier. A quick weekly check of delivery weights and invoices is far easier than chasing missing receipts after winter. HerdMobile calculates your daily feed cost per head and keeps feed stock and farm expenses together on your phone.
How do accurate herd records improve your daily ration?
Up-to-date herd counts and group moves mean you mix and feed the right amount for the cattle actually standing at the barrier. Identify every cow, heifer and calf by ear tag number, and record calvings, vaccinations, treatments and sales on the day they happen. When you move cows between milking, dry or youngstock groups, update the group straight away so daily feed amounts stay right. Note the date whenever you open a new grass silage cut or switch to a new batch of rapeseed meal, so you can spot any change in milk yield or body condition. Because HerdMobile works offline on your Android phone, you can record feed and herd events in the barn or beside the clamp, and save a ZIP backup file whenever you want to keep your records safe.
Questions from the farm
How do you track two different grass silage cuts?
Treat each grass silage cut as its own clamp or batch, then record the fresh kilograms fed, the date and the cattle group that ate it.
Can maize silage and grass silage go in one stock?
No. Keep maize silage and grass silage apart, in kilograms as fed, because they differ in dry matter, energy and protein.
Can I record herd and feed work in a barn with no signal?
Yes. HerdMobile works offline and keeps all your herd and feed records on your Android phone.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
HerdMobile helps German cattle farmers balance daily rations with their own silage and concentrates, track feed stocks, and manage ear tags, health, milk and farm finances offline on one Android phone.
