Every tonne of silage you harvest represents months of work, fuel, fertiliser and contractor costs. Yet one of the biggest causes of feed loss happens after the clamp is closed.
Good compaction removes as much air as possible. Oxygen barrier film prevents that air from getting back in.
Many farmers still ask the same question:
"Why should I spend more on an oxygen barrier film when standard polythene or cling film is much cheaper?"
The simple answer is this:
Because the cost of spoiled silage is usually far greater than the extra cost of the film.
The Hidden Cost of Oxygen
Once a clamp is sealed, the goal is simple:
Keep oxygen out.
Even small amounts of oxygen entering through the top or shoulders of a silage pit allow yeasts and moulds to grow. This leads to:
- Heating silage
- Mould growth
- Dry matter losses
- Reduced feed quality
- Lower energy value
- More silage thrown away
For Irish dairy, beef and sheep farmers, every kilogram of wasted silage ultimately has to be replaced with purchased feed.
Why Oxygen Barrier Film Performs Better
Unlike conventional polythene, oxygen barrier films are specifically designed to dramatically reduce oxygen transmission.
Research published in the Journal of Dairy Science found that oxygen barrier films significantly reduced aerobic spoilage, improved fermentation and reduced dry matter losses compared with conventional polyethylene covers. In one commercial farm trial, dry matter losses in the top layer were 3.7 times lower under the oxygen barrier film.
That means more of the silage you harvested actually ends up feeding livestock.
Why Spend More?
Many farmers notice that:
- Oxygen barrier film costs around twice the price of standard polythene
- Around three times the cost of cling film
At first glance it seems expensive.
But that's comparing purchase price, not cost per tonne of silage saved.
If your clamp loses just a few percent more dry matter because oxygen entered through the top layer, you've already lost far more than the difference in film cost.
Independent research has shown that although oxygen barrier films cost over twice as much as polyethylene, the additional expense is offset through greater dry matter recovery, less spoilage and reduced labour removing wasted silage.
Irish Silage Isn't Cheap
Producing quality silage in Ireland has never been more expensive.
Today's costs include:
- Fertiliser
- Diesel
- Contractor charges
- Grass reseeding
- Machinery
- Labour
- Additives
When you total these costs, every tonne of silage becomes extremely valuable.
Protecting that investment makes sense.
Introducing Agvance Seal Plus Silage Oxygen Barrier Film
Agvance Seal Plus Silage Oxygen Barrier Film has been developed specifically to minimise oxygen entering the clamp.
Key Features
✅ Only 45 microns (1.8 mil) thick for exceptional flexibility
✅ Oxygen Transmission Rate of just 0.4 cm³/m²/24h
✅ Clings tightly to every contour of the clamp
✅ Eliminates air pockets
✅ Lightweight and easy to apply
✅ Strong and tear-resistant when protected beneath the top sheet
Please note: As with all oxygen barrier films, it should always be covered with a UV-protected top sheet such as black plastic or a woven silage cover.
Better Cling = Better Preservation
One of the biggest advantages of Agvance Seal Plus is how closely it follows the surface of the silage.
Unlike heavier plastic sheets that can bridge over ridges and trap pockets of air, the oxygen barrier film hugs every contour.
Less trapped air means:
- Faster anaerobic fermentation
- Lower mould growth
- Better feed quality
- Reduced spoilage around the shoulders and top of the clamp
The Return on Investment
Many farmers focus on the purchase price of oxygen barrier film.
A better question is:
How much is poor silage preservation costing your farm?
Teagasc estimates that total dry matter losses from field to feed barrier can range from 15% to 35%, with poor compaction, inadequate sealing and oxygen exposure among the major causes. Those losses increase the amount of purchased feed needed over winter and raise the true cost of every tonne of silage produced.
Published research has consistently shown that oxygen barrier films help reduce spoilage in the upper layers of bunker silos. One Journal of Dairy Science study found that dry matter losses in the top layer were 3.7 times lower under an oxygen barrier film compared with conventional polyethylene on one commercial farm, while also improving aerobic stability and fermentation quality.
Rather than looking only at the price of the film, consider what it protects:
- More usable silage
- Less mould and heating
- Higher feed value
- Reduced purchased feed
- Less waste removed from the clamp
When every tonne of silage represents significant investment in fertiliser, diesel, contractor costs and labour, protecting that forage often delivers a far greater return than the additional cost of an oxygen barrier film.
A Smarter Investment for Irish Farms
Whether you're making first-cut silage for dairy cows, finishing cattle or wintering suckler cows, preserving every tonne has never been more important.
Choosing an oxygen barrier film isn't simply buying a more expensive sheet.
It's protecting:
- Feed quality
- Dry matter
- Animal performance
- Farm profitability
With forage costs remaining high across Ireland, investing in better preservation is often one of the most cost-effective decisions you can make.
Why Choose Agvance Seal Plus Silage Oxygen Barrier Film?
- Maximum oxygen protection
- Superior cling across the clamp
- Less spoilage
- Better fermentation
- More usable silage
- Excellent return on investment
- Designed for Irish dairy and beef farms
Protect your silage from the moment the clamp is sealed—and feed more of what you've worked so hard to produce.