Lallemand Animal Nutrition challenges industry to eliminate silage deaths and injuries

Lallemand Animal Nutrition challenges livestock producers to eliminate deaths and injuries that occur near silage bunkers or piles. To help producers meet this goal, the company is providing free silage safety resources.

“Too often, those of us that work around silage bunkers or piles feel complacent. We assume our silage operation will always be safe,” says Bob Charley, Ph.D., Forage Products Manager, Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “That’s the critical moment when we stop paying attention to our surroundings and are at the most risk for serious hazards like avalanches or cave-offs. It’s an unfortunate reality that on-farm deaths regularly occur near silage bunkers or piles. Yet, with the right resources, potential dangers can be understood and avoided.”

One valuable resource is offered by the company for free: the Silage Safety Handbook, which  includes practical tips for safely building, managing and feeding out silage. This edition is updated to include the latest industry information and is authored by leading silage safety experts Keith Bolsen, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Kansas State University, and Ruthie Bolsen, Customer and Technical Support with Bruno Rimini Corp.

Producers can request free copies of the handbook at https://qualitysilage.com/register/. In addition, other resources are available upon request, such as:

• A quick-reference poster to keep the key principles of silage safety top of mind.
• Safety vests to wear when working by silage bunkers or piles, which helps co-workers easily identify each other.
• Warning signs to post by silage bunker silos, piles and pits to ensure visitors don’t drive, park or walk near the feedout face.

In addition, a Lallemand Animal Nutrition representative can present a brief video as a refresher on the importance of safety practices.  To request these resources, contact your Lallemand Animal Nutrition representative.

Awareness of potential dangers is the first step to reducing the number of injuries or deaths around silage bunkers or piles. Sharing safety best practices is one way livestock producers can work to reduce risks on every farm, and Lallemand has worked with the most knowledgeable people in the industry to do just that, Dr. Charley says.

“I’m happy to work with Lallemand Animal Nutrition to help keep safety top-of-mind for every producer,” Dr. Bolsen says. “The biggest problem in bunker and pile management today is safety. If we’re not safe, then nothing else matters. It’s not about shrink loss, feed conversion or cost of gain. Our No. 1 job is to send everyone home to their family safe, every day.”

Lallemand Animal Nutrition is committed to optimizing animal performance and well-being with specific natural microbial product and service solutions. Lallemand Forward encompasses the specifically chosen service solutions that enhance people, knowledge and production practices. Knowledge development and training are key factors in improving production practices. Lallemand is moving Forward with educational programs such as this to help support animal agriculture.

“People are the greatest resource on any operation, and the safety of farm employees and visitors is everyone’s greatest priority. We hope livestock producers will accept our safety challenge,” Dr. Charley says. “We’ve developed these resources to ensure knowledge is paid Forward and help our customers improve their safety practices. These resources truly exemplify how Lallemand uses our company resources to move our customers and partners Forward, safely and productively.”