While each dairy farm provides unique challenges, the tower silo is best equipped to deal with these challenges most effectively.

Consider these factors:

Storage losses

• Storage losses in the tower silo average 6%*(1), while that of a bunker silo average 18%*(2) and may exceed 30%.
• In any storage method, the annual cost of storage loss is among the greatest of all annual costs of ownership.

Labor cost

• If labor is not free and readily available this cost can become extremely high

Filling rate

• Custom harvesters often fill tower silos at over 100 tons/hour*(3)
• The University of Wisconsin has been warning producers since a 1999 bunker density study that at high filling rates 60+ tons per hour it becomes exceedingly difficult to properly pack a bunker silo*(4).
• Click here to see attached chart
• Link to bunker spreadsheet (Bunker density calculator from University of Wisconsin)

Unloading rate

• New unloading systems are unloading at extremely *high speeds(5)
• Considering face management the tower silo may have the advantage

Unloading cost

• The cost of the unloading tractor and its operating costs, as well as labor cost make the tower more economical*(6)

Convenience

• Unload your feed with the touch of a button
• Avoid the pain of packing and covering the bunker

Feed quality

• The switch from horizontal to vertical storage can increase milk production totaling well over $100/cow/year*(7)