silege culture for goats
- Thread starter govs103
- Start date
Hi Raj,
Silage preparation is one of the important methods for storage of green fodder for animals & it is necessary to adopt this method for successful stall feeding business.
It is better to keep silage available for atleast 2 months timeframe. On average each animals needs 2kg of silage feed per day.
When fodder crop is in cob stage or Tussling stage, harvest it for preparation of silage. Very mature stage is not good for preparing silage as its sugar content is decreased as well as fibre percentage in increased; this kind of fodder is less suitable for silage making.
After harvesting fodder crops, let it dry for 5-6 hours in shed so that moisture content of fodder will decreases from 80% to 65-70%.Care to be taken to avoid silage making in rainy days or crops containing dew drops in winter season because moisture is more in this situation so there may be chances for development of mould in silo pit during storage period.
Following steps to be taken while filling silo pit-
•Prior to filling silo pit / tank, clean & dry it.
•Cover all walls of the pit, including the bottom with plastic film. Leave enough of the plastic film to do final covering from the top.
•For making silage, chaffing of fodder is essential component. With the help of chaff cutter machine, make pieces of 1.5c.m. To 2 c.m. length of green maize for filling silo pit.
•Prepare separate solution in 10 to 15 litres of water for Urea, Jaggary, Mineral mixture & common salt in separate pots/buckets & then spread it on layer of pressed chaffed green fodder while filling silo pit/tank.
•Start to fill chaffed green fodder in pit or tank.
•After making 4” thick layer of chaffed green fodder, press it with wooden plank(Like Mortar) in such a way that air will not entangled in chaffed fodder. Constantly sprinkle it with prepared solution of Jaggary, Mineral mixture, Urea and Common salt.
•For speedy fermentation of silage it is necessary to add silage culture while making silage. This culture contains Lactobacillus, Anaerobic Bacterialtrichoderma, Yeast and Enzymes which catalyse the silage making process.
•Follow the same procedure until filling of pit/tank. Then covet it from plastic film from all side carefully.
•Covet it with Wheat straw, dry hay to protect it from entering rain water in to it. If possible to temporary arrangement of shed above the silo pit/tank.
•Put tyre tubes (5-8) on top to keep the entire silo pressed down. Finally place zinc sheets in such a way that during rainy season water flows down.
•It will require 45 to 60 days to make good quality of silage. But you can take it out even after 15 days if you are in dire need of fodder.
After 8-10 weeks, silage is ready as feed for animals. Open pit, take 4inch of fodder from outer surface. Every time you open, it is good practice to take out at least 4inch of fodder so as to avoid spoilage/ growth of mould. If it is not in use, then cover it carefully with plastic film so that air will not go inside in silage.
There are many ways to store silage on your farm. Each farmer needs to find out what works for him or her. Most farmers consider bunkers, top unloading tower silos, and bagged silage before making their choice. Tower silos are the most widely used. Bunkers and silage bags have become more common in recent years.
You can store the silage for many months and still have good animal feed
- up to 85% of the energy and protein value of the original crop.
You can also refer to the small scale silage making manual by FAo.
Regards
Ashwini S
Silage preparation is one of the important methods for storage of green fodder for animals & it is necessary to adopt this method for successful stall feeding business.
It is better to keep silage available for atleast 2 months timeframe. On average each animals needs 2kg of silage feed per day.
When fodder crop is in cob stage or Tussling stage, harvest it for preparation of silage. Very mature stage is not good for preparing silage as its sugar content is decreased as well as fibre percentage in increased; this kind of fodder is less suitable for silage making.
After harvesting fodder crops, let it dry for 5-6 hours in shed so that moisture content of fodder will decreases from 80% to 65-70%.Care to be taken to avoid silage making in rainy days or crops containing dew drops in winter season because moisture is more in this situation so there may be chances for development of mould in silo pit during storage period.
Following steps to be taken while filling silo pit-
•Prior to filling silo pit / tank, clean & dry it.
•Cover all walls of the pit, including the bottom with plastic film. Leave enough of the plastic film to do final covering from the top.
•For making silage, chaffing of fodder is essential component. With the help of chaff cutter machine, make pieces of 1.5c.m. To 2 c.m. length of green maize for filling silo pit.
•Prepare separate solution in 10 to 15 litres of water for Urea, Jaggary, Mineral mixture & common salt in separate pots/buckets & then spread it on layer of pressed chaffed green fodder while filling silo pit/tank.
•Start to fill chaffed green fodder in pit or tank.
•After making 4” thick layer of chaffed green fodder, press it with wooden plank(Like Mortar) in such a way that air will not entangled in chaffed fodder. Constantly sprinkle it with prepared solution of Jaggary, Mineral mixture, Urea and Common salt.
•For speedy fermentation of silage it is necessary to add silage culture while making silage. This culture contains Lactobacillus, Anaerobic Bacterialtrichoderma, Yeast and Enzymes which catalyse the silage making process.
•Follow the same procedure until filling of pit/tank. Then covet it from plastic film from all side carefully.
•Covet it with Wheat straw, dry hay to protect it from entering rain water in to it. If possible to temporary arrangement of shed above the silo pit/tank.
•Put tyre tubes (5-8) on top to keep the entire silo pressed down. Finally place zinc sheets in such a way that during rainy season water flows down.
•It will require 45 to 60 days to make good quality of silage. But you can take it out even after 15 days if you are in dire need of fodder.
After 8-10 weeks, silage is ready as feed for animals. Open pit, take 4inch of fodder from outer surface. Every time you open, it is good practice to take out at least 4inch of fodder so as to avoid spoilage/ growth of mould. If it is not in use, then cover it carefully with plastic film so that air will not go inside in silage.
There are many ways to store silage on your farm. Each farmer needs to find out what works for him or her. Most farmers consider bunkers, top unloading tower silos, and bagged silage before making their choice. Tower silos are the most widely used. Bunkers and silage bags have become more common in recent years.
You can store the silage for many months and still have good animal feed
- up to 85% of the energy and protein value of the original crop.
You can also refer to the small scale silage making manual by FAo.
Regards
Ashwini S