Fodder preservation: Silage making

DIRECT
GRAZING CONVECTIONAL METHODS OF CUT & CARRY
FEEDING STOVER STOVER

SILAGE MAKING

STOCKING
STOVER

What is silage?
Silage refers to fodder developed from fresh herbage through a process of fermentation
occurring under anaerobic conditions. In this process, the epiphytic bacteria converts the
WSC in the plant material into pleasant smelling lactic acid that then prevents the spoilage of
silage by other bacteria or fungi.

Harvesting, addition of molasses & mixing of Silage making procedures

stover
•Aim to harvest at flowering
•Leave the freshly cut forage to dry in the sun for two to three hours
•Chop into small pieces about 1 to 2 cm.
• Mix the chopped stover in the ratio 3:1 (cereal : Legume)
• This can be 3 parts forage sorghum to 1 part velvet bean
•Apply molasses by sprinkling or spraying at a rate of 5L molasses to
100kg mixture of chopped stover ( cereal + legume)
• Dilute the molasses with water in a ratio of 1:3 before application
•Thoroughly mix molasses with the mixture of stover
• Place the chopped material into the plastic-lined pit
••A pit whose dimensions are 4m length, 2m width and 1.2m
depth can accommodate a tonne of stover.
•Uniformly spread chopped stover up to a 30 cm thick layer,
and compact the material to prevent spoiling
•Quickly repeat this process of layering and compacting until
the pit is filled to a dome shape
•When the pit is full, cover it with a plastic sheet and cover
with a thick layer of soil to prevent air and water from getting in
•The material is ready for feeding after 3 – 4 weeks of
ensilaging.

Silage making has the potential to improve feed quality from 3 -12% CP leading to improved livestock productivity and reduced
poverty deaths. Feed at a general daily feed requirement of 3% body weight at 50% supplementary level during the lean season
periods.
To learn more, contact your local extension officers.