Pit Silage: Would you consider it on the East Coast of Tassie?

In April 2025, East Coast Primary Producers gathered at Mayfield Estate for a practical and forward-looking discussion about pit silage — an alternative fodder storage method that might suit our conditions better than you’d think. 

Special guests Henric Nicholas, Daniel Goss from Tas Stockfeed, and local livestock vet Bruce Jackson shared their experiences and insights into how pit silage could become a valuable tool for farmers on the East Coast. The event was proudly supported by the Tas Farm Innovation Hub.

The difference between pit silage and wrapped bale silage

Silage is fermented, high-moisture fodder made from grass or crops, used to feed livestock when fresh pasture isn't available.

While many are familiar with wrapped bale silage, pit silage involves chopping the forage finely and storing it in a large pit lined with plastic and weighted with tyres. 

Henric explained that he uses a precision chopper to short-chop the grass, which is especially important for feeding sheep effectively. A well-made pit is then sealed carefully with plastic to create an anaerobic environment that preserves the fodder for years  or even decades.

One of the standout messages was that pit silage can last up to 20 years if stored properly. Henric had samples that were five years old – when passed around, the sample smelt clean, sweet, and fermented exactly as it should. 

Daniel from Tas Stockfeed tested older samples, confirming high nutritional value even after 20 years.

Henric shared that even though the right conditions to make pit silage might only occur once every five years, it is still worth the investment. Ideally, this follows a good spring with excess pasture. The harvesting and pit-filling process is quick and can typically be completed within three days, making hundreds of tons of feed.

Is pit silage worth it?

Once the initial hurdles around equipment are overcome, making and storing silage to feed in a drought is significantly more economical than buying in other forms of fodder.

Henric shared that pit silage costs about a third of what wrapped hay does per ton, based on 2020 figures. 

It’s a cost-effective reserve, especially valuable for drought years. A practical system is feeding grain and silage on alternating days, where grain delivers energy and silage provides essential fiber and rumen stimulation. 

Unlike grain, which requires careful ramp-up to avoid acidosis, stock can be put straight onto full silage rations safely. 

Bruce Jackson emphasised that pit silage provides a strategic backup, allowing farmers to maintain stock without heavy reliance on grain or expensive hay when drought hits.

If you have access to good spring pasture growth and suitable storage sites, pit silage could be an excellent long-term strategy for dry seasons. It offers a cost-effective, low-maintenance feed reserve, easing pressure when grain and hay prices spike. 

A huge thanks again to Henric Nicholas, Daniel Goss, and Bruce Jackson for sharing their practical knowledge, and to East Coast Primary Producers and the Tas Farm Innovation Hub for making these learning opportunities possible. Stay tuned for more events like this as part of our goal to help farmers on the East Coast stay resilient, informed, and connected.

East Coast Primary Producer members can also listen to a recording of the Q&A for this event in the WhatsApp group.