Scientific method of Silage making

Pashu Sandesh, 27 July 2019  

Dr Manjusha Dhage, Dr Sharad Durge, Dr Prapti  Nimje

Day by day there is an increase in the demand of concentrate feed so the cost of ration will ultimately increase. As a result, the farmer can’t afford the cost of concentrates. Whatever they feed to their livestock is not fully nutritious, the feed may be deficient in minerals, vitamins and also a poor source of energy and protein. As a result, the animal suffers from a health disorder, which will have a detrimental impact on production, reproduction potential and growth rate of the animal. So, there is a need to find out the solution to these kinds of problems.

Green fodder is an economical source of nutrient for dairy animals and it also provides the bulk to fulfil the satiety of animal. The production of green fodder is high in the rainy season. So it should be conserved for a lean period to ensure a regular supply of nutrients to the animal. Thus, silage is the best method to conserve green fodder and maintain a constant supply of nutrients throughout the year.

What is silage?

SILAGE is preserved green fodder under the anaerobic condition without losing its moisture content, nutritive value and palatability. The moisture content of green fodder should be within the range of 65-70%. The fodder is chaffed for about 2-4cm in length and then kept in anaerobic condition for 45-50 days. Carbohydrates present in the fodder are converted to lactic acid, which acts as a preservative and they also provide readily fermentable sugars to rumen microbes.

The process of conserving green fodder is called ensilage.  Silo is the container in which silage is made. The best silage is moist, soft but not slimy, brownish-green to golden yellow in colour with a fruity sweet smell.

Crops suitable for silage making:

Kinds of crops:

1. The fodder crops rich in soluble carbohydrates are most suitable for ensiling, such as -  Maize, Sorghum, Oats, Pearl millet, and hybrid Napier
2. Cultivated and natural grasses can be ensiled with the addition of molasses at 3-3.5%, 1% urea, 0.5% salt.
3. A mixture of grasses or cereal fodders and legumes such as berseem, lucerne etc. can be used in a ratio of 3:1.
4. Unwilted leguminous leafy fodders and dry forage should be used in the ratio of 4:1

     Stage of Harvesting:

    Crops should be harvested between flowering and milk stage. In general, thick-stemmed crops are most suitable for silage making.

Method of preparation of silage:

1. First of all, construct a silo pit. The pit size varies according to the amount of silage to be stored.
2. For the preparation of 500 kg silage, the pit should be 1 metre wide, 1metre deep and 1metre long (1×1×1).
3. The pit should be dug at the location where there is no stagnation of water.
4. Construct the pit using bricks and cement if possible
5. Then, spread a thick plastic paper having a 300-500micron thickness, surrounding the walls of the pit.
6. After that solution for spraying on the chaffed fodder should be prepared.
7. The solution is made by using 3-3.5% jaggery or molasses, 0.5% salt, 1%mineral mixture, 2% urea, LAB (lactic acid bacteria) 3-14% and 35-45litres of water for making of 100kg silage. 
8. Mix all the ingredients in the water and till they dissolve properly.
9. Then, add the chaffed fodder in the pit and make the layer of 1 foot.
10. Uniformly sprinkle this solution over the fodder, after sprinkling trampling should be done by feet or by tractor or by bull depending on the size of the pit.
11. Make sure that no air is trapped in the fodder pit.
12. Repeat the same procedure and make the bulk of 500kg.
13. At the top of the pit, fodder should be packed 3-4 feet above the ground level.
14. From all sides, it should be covered with long paddy straw or poor quality dry grasses and then covered it with polythene sheet and use the wet mud and dung to seal the material for preventing the entry of air and water. 
15. Silage would be ready in two months after covering

Benefits of Silage making:-

1. Silage ensures regular supply of fodder to dairy animals.
2. Ensures uniform quality fodder to animals during different seasons.
3. Silage can be made under almost all weather conditions.
4. Surplus green fodder can be conserved, minimizing wastage.
5. Feeding silage is an effective tool for control of parasitic diseases, as the parasites may be present at different stages in green fodder, get destroyed during ensiling.
6. It improves harvesting intensity and thereby enhances green fodder productivity.
7. Enhances livestock productivity by ensuring fodder supply, especially during the lean period.
8. Silage feeding provides all the required nutrients to the animals
9. It helps to increase milk production, maintains the reproduction capability and growth rate of the animal.

 Dr. Manjusha Dhage¹, Dr. Sharad Durge², Dr. Prapti Nimje³

1. PG Scholar, Department of Animal Nutrition, Udgir Dist. Latur, Maharashtra
2. Subject matter specialist, Department of Animal Nutrition,Udgir Dist.Latur, Maharashtra.
3. Assistant professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, Udgir Dist. Latur, Maharashtra.