Why, How and When
Why Crimp?
How to Crimp?
When to Crimp?
Harvesting?
Why Crimp?
✔ Maximises nutrient value and digestibility
✔ Enables earlier harvesting at peak nutritional value
✔ Simple process - crimp, ensile, feed
✔ No drying required
✔ Allows early establishment of follow-on crops
✔ Reduces grain loss in the field
✔ Makes harvesting less weather dependent
✔ Increases DM yield per acre of grain and straw
✔ Flexible and cheap storage
✔ Reduces bought-in feed requirement
✔ Backed by over 40 years' successful use in Finland and Northern Europe
✔ Turns homegrown moist cereals into quality digestible and palatable concentrate feed
✔ On-going product support from Kelvin Cave Ltd, the UK market leader in crimping technology
How to Crimp
If you can make good grass silage you will have no trouble with crimped feed.
Just make sure that you take account of the following 10 golden rules:
1) Aim to harvest the crop at the right stage: cereal grain at 35-45% moisture, pulses and grain maize at 30-35% moisture. Process and ensile within 24 hours of harvesting. Contact your Kelvin Cave Ltd. representative for advice on checking moisture content correctly. N.B. We can supply the only moisture meters available that will give accurate readings at grain moisture levels above 30%. Contact us for details.
2) Ensure that all areas where the crop will be handled and stored are clean.
3) Make sure that the clamp walls are solid and can withstand the pressure of consolidation.
4) Use new 1000 gauge polythene sheeting for the sides and ClampFilm™ and a 500 gauge sheet on top.
5) Ensure that the Murska or Korte crimper is set correctly so that all grains are crushed.
6) Apply Crimpstore at the recommended rates, having assessed the moisture content of the crop. Check moisture content regularly and add water as recommended.
7) Consolidate the crimped crop well in thin layers using the Dorset Wedge method.
8) Seal the clamp well for at least three weeks before feeding. Make sure that all air is excluded.
9) Cut the feed neatly from the face and manage it so that feed is removed across the whole face at least once a week, or more frequently in warmer weather.
10) Follow the recommendations for vermin control.
When to Crimp
All cereal crops (wheat, triticale, barley and oats) should be harvested at 35-45% moisture. This stage is reached when the stem immediately below the ear has turned yellow in the majority of plants. Grain from the middle of the ear should be at the ‘firm cheese’ stage, and can be squashed between thumb and finger with no visible moisture squeezing out.
Pulses (peas, beans and lupins) should be harvested at 30% moisture. The plants will have died and the pulses should be firm but ‘chewy’ rather than ‘crunchy’.
Maize grain should also be harvested as near to 30% moisture as possible. The plants should have lost their green colour at this stage. Remove the cob from its sheath and grip it firmly in both hands. If it produces a slight rattling sound when rotating the hands in opposite directions, it is ready to harvest.
Harvesting
Generally speaking, combining crops for crimping is no more difficult than combining traditionally. Remember that the crop will be bulkier than when it has dried out completely, so it may be necessary to drive slightly slower, but provided the crop is not wet with external moisture it should present no significant problems. Our staff can give advice on refining combine settings to optimise performance.
Download a How To Crimp Brochure.