SILAGEMAKING

Silage is a fermented feed resulting from the storage of high moisture crops under anaerobic
conditions in a structure known as silo. When the green is stored in an airtight silo its
fermentation by microbes result in production of lactic acid, acetic acid and formic acid, which
prevent decomposition and growth of unwanted spoilage organisms. Eventually, the acids kill
most of the microbes and preserve the silage as long as (1015 year) anaerobic condition is
maintained.
Thereareseveraladvantagesofsilagemaking.
Silagepreservesupto85percentofnutritivevalueofcrop.
Silage can ensure supply of quality forage in lean period. When green production in
excess,itcanbepreservedforfutureusebysilagemaking.
The produce from a given area can be stored in less space compared to when stored in
drycondition.
Acubicfootofsilagecontainsaboutthreetimesmoredryweightoffeedthanacubicfoot
oflonghaystoredintheheap.

Howtopreparegoodqualitysilage?
Preparingsilopit
Thesizeofsilopitshouldbedecidedonthebasisof
numberofanimals,
bodyweightofanimals,
lengthoffeedingperiodand
amountoffodderavailable.
Onanaverage,preparationofevery7.0quintalsilagerequireonecubicmetersilopit.Say,for
feeding12adultbuffaloesforonemonthperiodweneedabout(30Kgsilageof30%drymatter
perheadperd)108quintalssilageand16cubicmetersilopit(2.6meterdiameterand3meter
height).Silopitsshouldbeeasytofillandeasytoremove.Itshouldbeofadequatedepthfor
betterpackingandlesssurfaceareatototalmassexposed.Itshouldbeathighestspottoavoid
water seepage. Walls should be strong. Boundaries should be raised so that rain water cannot
entersilopit.

Typesofcropssuitableforsilagemaking
Crops having good percentage of sugar and appropriate (3540% dry matter 6560%
moisture.)moisturearegoodforsilagemaking.
Cropslike

maize,
jowar,
bajra,
hybridnapier,
oataremostsuitableforsilagemaking.
Leguminouscropslike
berseem,
Lucerne,
cowpeaisnotsuitable,unlessmolassesaresprayedonthesecropswhilefillingsilopit.
Harvestatproperstage
1.Cropsatprefloweringtofloweringstageshouldbeharvested.
2.Cropsshouldnotcontainmorethan75%moisturewhilesilagemaking.
3.Cropswithhollowstemslikemaize,jowar,bajra,hybridnapiershouldbechaffedtoan
inchsizetopreventtrappingofairandspilageofsilage.
4. Highmoisturecropscanbedriedinsunshinefor4hourstoreducemoisturecontentby
15%.Somedryhayorstraw520%canalsobeadded.
5.Ifthecropisoverripeandtoodryoritoverdried,addwaterduringpackingsilo.

Addanyofthefollowingadditiveswhenneeded
Molasses: When legumes (berseem, Lucerne, etc. ) and low sugar grasses are ensiled adding
molassesimprovequalityofsilageanditspalatability.Molassesmaybeaddedatthe
rateof3.54percentofgreenweightofsilage.
Urea:Cerealforagescanbeenrichedfornitrogen(protein)contentbysprayingureaatthe
rateof0.5to1.0percentoffreshforage.
Lime: This can be added at a level of 0.51.0 percent to maize silage to increase acid
production.

Fillingandsealingofthesilopit
1. The filling should be rapid with proper pressing by use of tractor after each filling to
removeair.
2.Silopitfillingshouldbecompletedwithin47days.
3.Afterthoroughpressing,topshouldbecoveredwithpolythenefollowedbysoillayerof6
inchesdepth.
4. Top of silo pit after filling and compressing should be higher than surrounding. Plug all
possibleareasofairorwaterentry.

Removingsilagefrompit
1.Silageshouldbereadywithinaperiodof23weekofsealing.
2.Onceopenedthepitshouldbefedcompletely.
3.Silagemaybefedfromtop,layerbylayer,daily.
4.Onexposuretoairforlongerperiodsilagegetspoiled.Hence,trytoprevententryofair.

Characteristicsofgoodsilage
1.Goodsilageshouldbegreen,brownorgoldencolour(blackcolourindicatepoorsilage).
2.Itshouldnotcontainmould.
3.Itssmellshouldbegoodsmelloflacticandaceticacid(likedahiandviniger).
4.Tasteshouldbepleasantandacidic.