{
  "slug": "silage-shrink-loss",
  "title": "Silage Shrink Loss Calculator",
  "heading": "Silage Shrink Loss Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/silage-shrink-loss",
  "summary": "Estimate dry matter and dollar loss from silage storage shrink.",
  "description": "Shrink is the silent cost of silage feeding: dry matter that disappears between the chopper and the feed bunk through fermentation gas loss, seepage, and surface spoilage. Bunker and pile silos routinely lose 12-20% of tonnage, while well-managed ag bags and tower silos can hold shrink to 5-8%. This calculator takes the tons ensiled, applies a shrink percentage based on storage type and management, and converts the loss into feed value dollars using your as-fed cost of production or purchase equivalent. It's the number that explains why two farms with identical yields end up with very different feed bills, and it's the lever most within reach through better packing density, faster fill, and tighter covering.",
  "formula": "Dry matter lost (tons) = tons ensiled × shrink %; dollar loss = lost tons × value per ton; usable tons = tons ensiled − lost tons.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=silage-shrink-loss",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "tonsEnsiled",
      "label": "Tons ensiled (as-fed)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3000,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 10,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "storageType",
      "label": "Storage type",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "bunker",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "bunker",
          "label": "Bunker/drive-over pile (15% shrink)"
        },
        {
          "value": "bag",
          "label": "Ag bag (8% shrink)"
        },
        {
          "value": "tower",
          "label": "Tower silo (7% shrink)"
        },
        {
          "value": "baleage",
          "label": "Wrapped baleage (10% shrink)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "customShrink",
      "label": "Override shrink % (0 = use storage default)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 40
    },
    {
      "id": "valuePerTon",
      "label": "Value per ton as-fed",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "dollarLoss",
      "label": "Value lost to shrink",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "lostTons",
      "label": "Tons lost",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "usableTons",
      "label": "Usable tons remaining",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "shrinkPct",
      "label": "Shrink rate applied",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Tons ensiled (as-fed): 3000",
      "Storage type: Bunker/drive-over pile (15% shrink)",
      "Override shrink % (0 = use storage default): 0 %",
      "Value per ton as-fed: 55 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Value lost to shrink: $24,750",
      "Tons lost: 450",
      "Usable tons remaining: 2,550",
      "Shrink rate applied: 15.0%"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter tons ensiled (as-fed).",
      "Enter storage type.",
      "Enter override shrink % (0 = use storage default) (%).",
      "Enter value per ton as-fed ($).",
      "Read your value lost to shrink on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "tonsEnsiled": 1800,
        "storageType": "bunker",
        "customShrink": 0,
        "valuePerTon": 33
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "tonsEnsiled": 3000,
        "storageType": "bunker",
        "customShrink": 0,
        "valuePerTon": 55
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "tonsEnsiled": 4800,
        "storageType": "bunker",
        "customShrink": 0,
        "valuePerTon": 88
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What cuts bunker silo shrink the most?",
      "a": "Packing density is the biggest lever — targeting 44+ lb of dry matter per cubic foot versus a loose 30-35 lb can cut shrink by a third. Fast fill (under 3 days), immediate tight covering with oxygen-barrier film, and quick feedout rate (removing 6+ inches per day) round out the rest."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why is baleage shrink higher than tower silos?",
      "a": "Individually wrapped bales have far more surface area exposed to potential film damage per ton stored, and any tear or puncture lets in oxygen that spoils that whole bale. Tower silos have minimal surface-to-volume ratio, which is why they shrink least despite being less common now."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is shrink the same as feed-out waste at the bunk?",
      "a": "No, this calculator only covers storage shrink from fermentation and spoilage before feeding. Bunk refusal and push-up losses are a separate, additional loss that typically runs another 2-5% on top of storage shrink."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I actually measure my shrink?",
      "a": "Weigh or estimate tons going in at harvest using yield monitor data or load counts, then track tons fed out using TMR mixer loads. The gap between the two, adjusted for any beginning/ending inventory, is your real shrink number."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hay-bale-cost-per-ton",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dairy-feed-cost-per-cwt",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/corn-silage-yield-estimate"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Silage Shrink Loss Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/silage-shrink-loss)"
}