Dr.Waqas Nawaz PMAS arid agriculture university rawalpindi pakistan

2. 11-arid-948
To
11-arid-953

3. What is Silage?
 Fodder is packed in airtight condition
to preserve its nutritional value,
improve its quality and taste and to
make it easily digestible
 This is called silage or pickle of the
fodder.

4. Principle:
In this process, green fodder is
fermented through special bacteria
which can survive without oxygen
The resulting fodder is rendered
tasty and easily digestible for
animals

5. Mechanism/Process:
 The preparation of good quality silage depends on
1-Timely harvesting of fodder,
2-Quantity of air in it at the time of packing
3-Preservation method
 In this process useful bacteria converts soluble starches
into lactic acid
 It decreases its acidic quality (pH) to 3.0-4.0, which
stops the growth of harmful germs
 Makes the fodder safe for animal consumption
 If moisture content is high in fodder, wheat straw or
crushed cobs of maize can be added for silage making

6. Steps for Silage Making :
Selection of fodder
Check moisture
Harvesting
Chopping
Pressing
Storage

7. Selection of fodder:
• Silage can be made from all winter and summer
fodders
• But usually maize, oats, sorghum etc. are considered
best for silage making

8. Cont…
 Normally fodder with
Broad leaves
Thick stems
 Leguminous fodder has less carbohydrates and
protein content, they are usually mixed with non
leguminous fodder (like maize and sorghum) to
make the best and nutritious silage

9. Harvesting & Check moisture:
 It is important to determine the right time for harvesting
fodder to get the best nutritional value from silage
 The time to harvest can be determined from the following
indications:
1. When the plant is fully mature
2. Half of the grain in maize is milky
3. The fruitful fodder has 50% flowers
4. Moisture content is 65-70 %

10. Chopping of fodder:
CHOPPED
FODDER

11. Pressing of chopped fodder:

12. Storage:

13. Advantages:
 A cheap substitute for fodder at the time of fodder
shortage
 Silage makes the fodder more digestible
 Land is available for the next crop without delay,
because all of the fodder is harvested and stored at
once
 Animals get nutritious feed the whole year
 Expenditure on labour force is decreased considerably

14. Uses/Applications:
 The animals like eating silage, but the buffalo may be
hesitant in the beginning.
 In this case, feed it with green fodder or concentrate mixed
in the silage, so that it develops a taste for the silage. Then
increase its quantity gradually.
 Give 15 to 20 kilogram silage along with concentrates daily
to the lactating animals.
 Be careful when removing silage from the bunker. Cover it
with polythene so that mud or moisture does not spoil the
silage.

15. Cont…

16. Feed Additives:
 Their main functions are to either increase
nutritional value of silage or improve
fermentation so that storage losses are
reduced.
 Silage additives include feedstuffs, urea,
ammonia, inoculants and acids.

17. Types Of Silage Additives:
 NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN (NPN). Urea and
anhydrous ammonia can be added to silages to
increase their crude protein (CP) content
 FEEDSTUFFS. Feeds such as corn, small grains, and
molasses can be added to forage
 MINERALS. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorous,
sulfur and magnesium have been added to forage

18. Cont…
 ACIDS. Acids are added to forages at ensiling to cause
an immediate drop in pH
 MICROBIAL INOCULANTS. Inoculants are added to
forage to increase the number of desirable bacteria
present at the time of ensiling.

19. Remember:
1. No additive can replace good silage making
techniques, but may improve fermentation and
nutritional value of some silages. The response is
usually not large