Silage is a form of animal feed utilized by dairy producers worldwide. Silage is given to various livestock, including cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats as an alternate to green fodder. There is the biggest shortage of green fodder, then it is summer time and then in rainy season from July to October months, sufficient amount of green fodder and hay is available with the cattle rearers. Therefore, farmers can make silage from the green fodder during the rainy season without spoiling this green fodder, which can be preserved for the days when there is a shortage of green fodder and the cost is also very high.
Green fodder fulfills the deficiency of nutrients inside the animals. A milch animal, whose average weight is 550 kg, can be fed 25 kg of silage. Silage is highly digestible and more nutritious. By feeding silage to livestock, the milk production of the animals increases significantly. Silage production is an essential aspect of the dairy farming process in a nation with the world’s biggest cow inventory.
This post will cover all you need to know about Silage fodder and its production at Bharatvarsh Nature Farms.
What is silage?
Silage is prepared when we keep green fodder containing high moisture without air. When green fodder is fermented in the absence of air, lactic acid is produced. It helps in preserving green fodder for a longer time. For making silage at farmers location, pits (which are called silos) are prepared. Silage becomes ready for feeding to animals in 30 to 35 days and well-prepared silage can be consumed for an year from the date of production.
What do you need to make silage?
- First and foremost is the high-quality crop suitable for silage production.
- You would need proper agricultural equipment such as tractors, silage baling machines, etc. for mass manufacturing.
- A silo or trench would be required to store the prepared silage.
- It is also vital to realize that additions like molasses, urea, salt, and formic acid may considerably enhance the quality of silage preparation.
Silage production
Green cereal crops like maize, bajra, jowar, oats are suitable for making silage. Natural fermentation is good due to high sugar content in these crops.When these grasses have the greatest nutritional levels, which is shortly before the full maturity stage, the pasture is cut. Once the grasses become dry, such as hay, and stored for longer duration, they have very few nutrients than fresh pasture. Therefore, green fodder must be processed immediately to make the finished product as nutritious as possible.
The grass is left to wilt in the field for a few hours to lower the moisture content to the ideal level of 60-75 percent. If the grass is left out for too long, it may get too dry or rained on, both these cases may diminish effectiveness of the fermentation and can lower the quality of silage.
Fermentation Method
To ensure good fermentation process, the cut grass is chopped into smaller pieces ( 0.5 inches or 1.3 cms ) to effectively discharge the oxygen. This is significant because microbes responsible for fermentation, particularly lactic acid bacteria, thrive in anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments.When oxygen is present, plant enzymes and other microbes produce energy by reacting with plant sugars and proteins, thereby lowering the number of nutrients in the final product.
Silage storage
Following the first two procedures, the compressed grass is sealed in silo pit or wrapped with plastic to keep oxygen out. When the hay is to be kept in a huge pit,tractors and other heavy gear are frequently run over the grass pile until it is hard and compressed. Afterwards, silage mounds are covered with massive polythene (plastic) sheets and weighted down (typically with used tires).
For making silage bales, baling machineries are used to compress the grass and then bales are wrapped in plastic to avoid contact with air.
Technique of Preserving silage at Bharatvarsh Nature Farms
Bharatvarsh Nature Farms uses silage baling method to prepare and store silage. Lactic acid bacteria begin to increase once all of the oxygen has been used up and the fermentation process starts. These bacteria perform an important role in converting plant carbohydrates into lactic acid, causing the pH to fall (the mixture becomes more acidic). The sugars cease breaking down once the pH is about 4-5, and the grass is preserved until the silage is opened and exposed to air.
If the pH is not low enough, a different kind of bacteria will begin digesting the silage, creating by-products (such as ammonia) that cows and sheep dislike. As a result, the latter condition must be avoided at all costs.
About Bharatvarsh Nature Farms
Bharatvarsh Natural Farms is the largest nature tourist site near Nagpur, with 100 acres of breathtakingly vast flora. These organic farms, constructed on the bank of a natural lake and surrounded by a wide forest region, are just 30 kilometers from Nagpur on Umred Road. The property includes:
- A food forest.
- Super-foods farm.
- Medicinal garden.
- Dairy farms with Indian breed cows.
- Green fodder fields.
- Well-designed picnic gardens.
- Fun-filled activities for everyone who enjoys nature.
Bharatvarsh Nature Farms is a beautiful retreat for individuals seeking to disconnect from the outer world and immerse themselves in the pleasant warmth of nature. The location allows you to spend time with nature in the most natural manner possible. Bharatvarsh Nature farms produce and manufacture silage feed in bulk quantity for making silage fodder available for cattles throughout the year.
Enquire for Silage requirement:
Bharatvarsh Nature Farms is single largest manufacturer of silage in Vidarbha region, specializing in producing silage bales 365 days a year, and then delivering high-quality silage bales in bulk quantity. In a nation where the majority of prefers to rear cattles for milk production, we want to revolutionize the industry by making nutritious fodder available throughout the year for cattles. Do you want to learn more? Check us out right now!
Visit our website : www.bharatvarshnaturefarms.com for information on various products available and can always write to us for
any enquiry @ info@bharatvarshnaturefarms.com Or Call Us @ 8603214214
