BALED SILAGE survey information and consent

 

Title of the study: A survey of baled silage ensiling and storage practices

 

Researcher: Rhun Fychan, arf@aber.ac.uk, 01970 823061

 

Purpose of the study:

This survey will collect information on current baled silage ensiling and storage practices. The survey results will enable us to target relevant research areas to help improve ensiling and storage techniques.

How you can help

By completing the online survey (click the button, top right, to start). If you are happy for us to contact you for additional information, or you would like to be added to our mailing list please leave your contact details at the end of the survey.

 

There are three parts to the survey:

  1. Your current baling process
  2. Quantifying the visible spoilage on bales in your current system
  3. Your opinion on the current system and your future aims

 

To help complete section 2 of the survey, you may want to monitor the quantity of visible spoilage that occurs on your bales over a number of days or weeks depending on the number of bales you are currently feeding before you complete the survey. We are interested to understand how much mould/spoilage you observe on the top, sides and bottom surfaces of bales within each layer of the stack.

 

With square bales and with end stored round bales, top, side and bottom surfaces are self explanatory (see figures). For round bales stored on their curved side, in terms of a clock face please consider that:

  • the TOP is the curved surface from 10.30 to 1.30
  • the BOTTOM is the curved surface from 4.30 to 7.30
  • the SIDES are the areas between 1.30 to 4.30 and 7.30 to 10.30 (as well as the front and back)

Your consent

Please read the information provided below prior to starting the survey. By completing and submitting the survey you agree that all information you provide can be used by research staff in connection with the BALED SILAGE survey.

 

Any information collected by the researchers:

  • will be used only for this research study
  • will be accessed only by authorised research colleagues
  • may be used in a report for publication
  • may be presented at research conferences or meetings
  • will be anonymised and treated confidentially in all outputs and/or reporting

 

We agree that you have a right to:

  • request to see a copy/summary of the completed study
  • request to see any information provided by you which is recorded and retained during the process of data collection

 

If you have any queries regarding this study please speak to the researcher directly using the contact information provided above.

 

Thank you

 

The information provided on this and other pages by me, Rhun Fychan (arf@aber.ac.uk), is under my own personal responsibility and not that of the Aberystwyth University. Similarly, any opinions expressed are my own and are in no way to be taken as those of Aberystwyth University.